What is LOVE? The child replies......

A group of professionals once asked children aged 4 to 8 a simple yet profound question: “What does love mean?” The answers they received were unexpectedly deep, pure, and wise—far beyond what anyone imagined. “When my grandmother got arthritis and couldn’t bend to paint her toenails, my grandfather started doing it for her—even after his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” — Rebecca, 9 “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know your name is safe in their mouth.” — Billy, 4 “Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on cologne, and they go out and smell each other.” — Karl, 5 “Love is when you go out to eat and give someone most of your French fries without expecting any in return.” — Chrissy, 6 “Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” — Terri, 4 “Love is when my mom makes coffee for my dad and takes a sip first to make sure it tastes okay.” — Danny, 8 “Love is what’s in the room at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.” — Bobby, 7 “If you want to learn to love better, start with a friend you don’t like.” — Nikka, 6 “Love is when you tell someone you like their shirt, and they wear it every day.” — Noelle, 7 “Love is like a little old man and woman who are still best friends after knowing each other for so long.” — Tommy, 6 “During my piano recital, I was scared. But when I saw my dad smiling and waving at me, I wasn’t afraid anymore.” — Cindy, 8 “My mom loves me more than anyone. No one else kisses me goodnight like she does.” — Clare, 6 “Love is when Mom gives Dad the best piece of chicken.” — Elaine, 5 “Love is when Mom sees Dad all sweaty and smelly and still says he’s more handsome than movie stars.” — Chris, 7 “Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you’ve left him alone all day.” — Mary Ann, 4 “I know my big sister loves me because she gives me her old clothes and goes out to buy new ones.” — Lauren, 4 “When you love someone, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” — Karen, 7 “Love is when Mom sees Dad in the bathroom and doesn’t think it’s gross.” — Mark, 6 “You shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you do mean it, you should say it often—people forget.” — Jessica, 8 And finally, the most touching answer of all: A little boy saw his elderly neighbor crying after losing his wife. He walked over, climbed onto the man’s lap, and simply sat there. When his mother later asked what he had said, the boy replied: “Nothing… I just helped him cry.” Sometimes, the simplest hearts understand love the best.