Choosing Love                            

"I LIKE you Mom," said my 3 year-old, Ryan, to me when he woke up.  What a gift he gave me that morning!  I felt so happy and grateful that day.  My son's comment made such a difference in me at that moment.

Every day presents us with many opportunities to make a difference.  A difference in other people's lives, as well as in our own.  Parents and teachers have special and unique opportunities to make a difference in children's lives.  Let us use these opportunities to consciously make a positive, empowering impact.  Imagine what a positive, loving world we would create!

We all desire to create happiness, success, joy, peace, harmony, abundance and beauty.  The challenge is in knowing how to create these things.  But really, the answer is quite simple... by choosing Love. This is where true creative Power comes from. 

What we choose to think, be, and do, determines what we create.  In order to create from a place of Love, allow your actions to be a response to the following thought, "What would love do?"  Ask this every time you are faced with a choice.  Ask this every time you interact with your children, spouse, friends, co-workers, and even strangers.  Ask this when you are deciding what to buy and what to eat.  Ask this when choosing your words and thoughts.

After asking "What would love do?," listen within.  You will get an answer in the form of words, feelings,  visions or knowingness.  Trust that you will be guided by true wisdom once you set your intentions on love.

As you start doing this more often, you will notice that many times you are responding from a place of fear, and therefore, creating from fear.  When you act from a place of fear, your experiences reflect back expressions of fear... hurt, jealousy, anger, lack, resentment, struggles, disappointment, etc.  When you choose to act from a place of love, all you see, feel and experience reflects back expressions of love... compassion, honesty, wisdom, beauty, peace, and many other experiences that are by far more fulfilling and rewarding.

One night last week, when I was putting my 5 1/2 year-old son, Zachary, to bed, he told me that he was hungry.  I was surprised as he had just eaten a big meal only 1 1/2 hours before.  I said he would have to wait until breakfast.  He was obviously upset at my response, but I thought I was being reasonable.  I was also looking forward to taking a shower and relaxing for the rest of the evening after having a hectic day.

While in the shower, I heard little footsteps approaching.  In comes Zach saying, "Mommy, I am hungry.  I would like cereal with milk."  I felt irritation building up as my long awaited relaxing shower was being interrupted.  At this moment, I asked myself, "What would love do?"  I then heard a voice in my head say, "Give him the cereal and take care of your needs."  If I had not asked this question, I would have told him that it was past his bedtime and he needed to go back to bed now.  I realized that my response would have come from fear that he was using this tactic to manipulate me because he didn't want to go to bed or fear that asking for food after bedtime would become a habit.  I heard the voice tell me again to give him the cereal.  A peaceful feeling came over me. 

I calmly told Zach, "I wish to finish my shower.     I also need you to go to bed as soon as possible so that your body can be rested for tomorrow's school day."  Then I asked him, "What is YOUR need?"  "I need to eat," he replied.  I asked him, "How can we BOTH get our needs met?"  "I will eat my cereal quickly while you finish your shower and then, I'll go to bed really fast!," he said.  I smiled at his suggestion and agreed to it.  A few minutes later I heard a "Thank you Mom!"  When I went to his bedroom a few minutes later, he was already asleep.

When we choose love, we not only manifest happiness and miracles in our lives, but we also become role models for our children to do the same.  What a gift to our children!  To see us creating from our true source of power... Love!

I invite you to think about an opportunity you have RIGHT NOW where you can ask yourself, "What would love do?"  Think about the situation you are facing.  Does it involve your children, spouse, parents, friends, co-workers, or just yourself?  Once you select the situation, ask yourself, "What would love do?"  Listen to the answer.  Pay attention to your impressions.  Write them down.  Make a commitment to yourself to honor your own loving inner guidance.

When we choose Love, life changes before your very eyes as you re-awaken the love within you.  Life becomes a magical place!  You make a REAL difference!

By Dumari Dancoes