The Compassionate Nature Of Giving And Receiving: Love Poem by Romella Kitchens

At work, some years, I make or buy Valentine's Day cookies...
The most beautiful, tasty cookies I can find.
I give a Valentine's Day cookie to everyone there, not
simply place the box on the counter in the kitchen.
They look in the bakery box and take the next cookie up.
In years of working, never has anyone not accepted that loving act.
In fact, they rush to the box to get their cookie, to get that loving symbol and they eat them immediately.
They take their turn, never one blocking the other and seem to enjoy each other's response.
They smile.Their faces are glad.
None of them doubt my caring.
They approach the box confident they are loved and included.
I have heard their stories.
They have heard mine.
Some stories have unfolded by themselves over the years, telling themselves.
Some stories burn, get their roots torn out, relocate so quickly even the story wonders: "Where am I? "
Many of those stories utter true tales of being places where there wasn't any food at all, where lights and water could be on or off.
In the quiet hours at work, stories approach like innocent deer, wanting little more than your understanding, the nourishment of your acceptance.
Then, I select a cookie for myself and think about love, in a world where even on Valentine's Day card it is rarely ever mentioned in a conducive form.
I eat my cookie and am glad to have shared, glad to have considered everyone equal with adoration when it comes to the spiritual commodity we call love.
I reason, when we accept love or respond to love are we not giving love then, as well?
I think we need an inclusive, normative love in this world.
I think it would solve many problems.