Oh, my,how I needed this today!! No great problems just reminders of this sweet mess caled famiily! I felt the words just wash over my tired self, and the truth of them light a fire from nearly cold ashes! But the fire did catch and as I read on... the words gently blew on the tiny fllame and gradually it grew bigger and warmer!!
It now warms me inside. Glad I dipped my toe into Substack first thing this morning!!
Just a resounding “ Yes!” I love the way the posts you planted before grow again. It is like walking through a favorite garden in and seeing favorite blooms in a new season. They take on new meaning after the time that has passed between meetings.
That's really nice to hear. We're trying to resurface key moments on a certain rotation so that new subscribers get a chance to know Billie and Z, too--get a chance to get oriented and form a sense of connection. But it's sweet to hear it's not too grating for our already good friends here!
I remember my relief when I first understood that love wasn't a feeling. I was angry. Interiorly I blamed other people, some of them lifelong friends, for the chaos that ensued in 2016 and has only gotten worse. I felt guilty for not feeling unconditional love, especially after I was verbally attacked for not voting for their candidate. Suddenly, in their mind, I was someone who didn't care about babies. It stung. I had a hard time with my feelings. Would God strike me down for not feeling unconditional love towards them? I didn't feel love, the greatest commandment! Then I realized that I was still treating my friends and others with kindness and I was patiently sticking with the relationship, and I knew that this was enough...this was what loving is. I had some new boundaries in the relationship but I hadn't given up, and even that was a choice that I could make and still act in a loving manner.
Oh boy do I hear this loud and clear. That is right. Love does not mean we are comfortable with everyone's choices, or even that we have no conditions. Well said, Linda!
Linda-I understand your feelings exactly. We reside in a bright red state and there are very few folks who understand our values and why we think as we do. I try to keep loving, but it is so much “easier” to avoid them as much as possible. I certainly can’t express my thoughts and feelings. Hugs…..
"because love is something we do, not something we feel, love is a verb, not a noun, love is an action, a decision, a willful forward movement" - so beautiful Jeannine. Thank you for these words.
Your words were, as always, insightful, but the image of the slide brought back a childhood memory and took me straightaway to the memoir I'm chasing, where I spent a good chunk of the morning adding the "My Burned Butt" story to the collection! Thank you for all you provide us!
Thank you Jeanine for sharing these stories with us today. Powerfully stated, and absolutely convincing. Loving one another in love's infinite expressions is truly a gift that we can give to each other at anytime, and it's free. What a joy to be able to find communion with so many beautiful and loving people coming together in the name of love, on Sunday, in this virtual space. May this day continue to bless you with joy and inspiration.
I just returned from a long walk in the cold with my love, through the woods and back out into the brilliant sunshine, to read this most perfect of essays. I feel so peaceful knowing there are people like you in the world who feel this truth and are able to express it with such poignant clarity. With gratitude and warmest wishes.
I started to read this as soon as it arrived in my inbox then got diverted by a friend’s pain and need. Coming back to your beautiful words now, they resonate even more. Don’t we all need the capacity to give and receive love for love’s sake, because how can we know when we’ll be called upon to demonstrate it?
Sending love to your friend, and to you. Thank you for coming back and for taking the time to read my work. I'm grateful, Anna, and am happy to be getting to know you in this special place.
Oh, my,how I needed this today!! No great problems just reminders of this sweet mess caled famiily! I felt the words just wash over my tired self, and the truth of them light a fire from nearly cold ashes! But the fire did catch and as I read on... the words gently blew on the tiny fllame and gradually it grew bigger and warmer!!
It now warms me inside. Glad I dipped my toe into Substack first thing this morning!!
"The sweet mess called family" --oh boy, yes. And thank you for this message, Sue ❤️
Just a resounding “ Yes!” I love the way the posts you planted before grow again. It is like walking through a favorite garden in and seeing favorite blooms in a new season. They take on new meaning after the time that has passed between meetings.
That's really nice to hear. We're trying to resurface key moments on a certain rotation so that new subscribers get a chance to know Billie and Z, too--get a chance to get oriented and form a sense of connection. But it's sweet to hear it's not too grating for our already good friends here!
I remember my relief when I first understood that love wasn't a feeling. I was angry. Interiorly I blamed other people, some of them lifelong friends, for the chaos that ensued in 2016 and has only gotten worse. I felt guilty for not feeling unconditional love, especially after I was verbally attacked for not voting for their candidate. Suddenly, in their mind, I was someone who didn't care about babies. It stung. I had a hard time with my feelings. Would God strike me down for not feeling unconditional love towards them? I didn't feel love, the greatest commandment! Then I realized that I was still treating my friends and others with kindness and I was patiently sticking with the relationship, and I knew that this was enough...this was what loving is. I had some new boundaries in the relationship but I hadn't given up, and even that was a choice that I could make and still act in a loving manner.
Oh boy do I hear this loud and clear. That is right. Love does not mean we are comfortable with everyone's choices, or even that we have no conditions. Well said, Linda!
Linda-I understand your feelings exactly. We reside in a bright red state and there are very few folks who understand our values and why we think as we do. I try to keep loving, but it is so much “easier” to avoid them as much as possible. I certainly can’t express my thoughts and feelings. Hugs…..
All the hearts, Z and Jeannine. All the hearts. ❤️
"because love is something we do, not something we feel, love is a verb, not a noun, love is an action, a decision, a willful forward movement" - so beautiful Jeannine. Thank you for these words.
Thank you for spending this time with me on a Sunday morning, Flavia ❤️
You are a brilliant beautiful lighthouse, Jeannine ♥️ Thank you for this ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, Mesa!! xoxo
So beautiful Jeannine. Love is everything! ✨💛✨
Thank you so much, Kate ❤️
I can't believe I get to learn from you. I just can't believe it.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Love seeing this one again. Thank you.
Just...gorgeous.
Thank you, Janet!
Your words were, as always, insightful, but the image of the slide brought back a childhood memory and took me straightaway to the memoir I'm chasing, where I spent a good chunk of the morning adding the "My Burned Butt" story to the collection! Thank you for all you provide us!
I love hearing this synergy. Isn't that photo of the slide something? I am 55, and this is what slides looked like when I was little.
Thank you Jeanine for sharing these stories with us today. Powerfully stated, and absolutely convincing. Loving one another in love's infinite expressions is truly a gift that we can give to each other at anytime, and it's free. What a joy to be able to find communion with so many beautiful and loving people coming together in the name of love, on Sunday, in this virtual space. May this day continue to bless you with joy and inspiration.
May it bless you as well, Jau Ma. Thank you ❤️
I just returned from a long walk in the cold with my love, through the woods and back out into the brilliant sunshine, to read this most perfect of essays. I feel so peaceful knowing there are people like you in the world who feel this truth and are able to express it with such poignant clarity. With gratitude and warmest wishes.
I just returned from a long walk in the cold on the beach with my love! We were walking with each other, Diana!
We were! What a beautiful thought!
I started to read this as soon as it arrived in my inbox then got diverted by a friend’s pain and need. Coming back to your beautiful words now, they resonate even more. Don’t we all need the capacity to give and receive love for love’s sake, because how can we know when we’ll be called upon to demonstrate it?
Sending love to your friend, and to you. Thank you for coming back and for taking the time to read my work. I'm grateful, Anna, and am happy to be getting to know you in this special place.
So special. Still can’t believe my luck (or perhaps it was fate) in having found you and the community that surrounds you. You all make me so happy.
❤️
MOVING.
Thank you, Lindsay ❤️