Love in action is what make the world smile

Need a spring lift? The way the wind's blowing today it could pick a person up and I'd find myself floating away like Mary Poppins. Or maybe more like Dorothy, swirled away to Oz — dodging swaying pines all the way. The kind of lift I'm referring to is one many of us seek these days in a world rife with disheartening events. A friend posted it from a site called Positive News.

Kids, ages 4 to 8 years old, were asked, “What does love mean?” This is how they answered:

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know your name is safe in their mouth. Billy, 4

If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend you hate. Nikka, 6

When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you. Karen, 7

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. Mary Ann, 4

You really shouldn't say “I love you” unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget. Jessica, 8

My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night. Clare, 6

Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well. Tommy, 6

Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day. Noelle, 7

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen. Bobby, 7

Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK. Danny, 8

Love is what makes you smile when you're tired. Terri, 4

When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore … so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's love. Rebecca, 8

During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore. Cindy, 8

Love is when you go eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs. Chrissy, 8

And the last explanation of love is from a 4-year-old boy whose next door neighbor lost his wife. When he saw the elderly man crying he went into his yard, climbed onto his lap, and sat there. Later his mother asked him what he'd said to the man. The boy answered, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

Love in action — that's what matters.