And it wasn’t just those gorgeous glossy curls that Oprah was sporting. (How do they get her hair to do that?)
It was, rather, the moment when Nicole Kidman (interviewing fellow Aussie Russell Crowe), posed this question: do you prefer to love or to be loved?
Which made him fidget uncomfortably.
And which really made me think.
We mothers tend to give a lot of love—all day, every day. We wipe noses; we wash hands. We wipe bottoms; we wash socks.
We cook; we clean; we cuddle. We grade papers and bake cakes. We tuck in our little bumpkins with a kiss at night and are there to smile and make them breakfast in the morning.
And we do it all free of charge!
But my heart of hearts begs the question: does this mean that I prefer to love?
Because being loved is mighty nice, also.
And which might be why, on Ash Wednesday, I got all misty-eyed during Mister Rogers. (Such a kindly man, that Fred.) He was talking about how good it feels to be loved.
And how we need it.
And how I agree.
Yet, (and this is the big problem for an Affirmation Girl like myself), I see how my needing love often leads to my demanding love—from my children, my husband, my family, and my friends.
I find that I often demand love on my terms, you know? And that might not be the way that other people are able or willing to give it.
So yes, this is a big problem for me, certainly. However, it’s an even better Lenten challenge! To love with a selfless love, and to welcome with gratitude and humility the love that I am given in return!
No awards for this mom are necessary. Just a kiss or two and a thank you when the meal is nice.
See you at the Oscars! They are this Minnesota Mom’s yearly indulgence.
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