May 3rd

“We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.” 1st John 3:16

i know love,
from the soft breath of my mother
while she read to me,
to the way friends do not
hold back in caring for me,
and in the life which is shared
with me by my soul mate.
i know how i want to keep
it locked away in my heart
like a miser putting funds
in a massive safe.
so may i dare not only
to speak the words,
but to spend love
extravagantly, even unwisely,
on those i am told
are not to be valued,
to turn towards them
so i can see their needs,
to lay down what many might
say is the most important
thing i will ever have,
but is simply a small piece
of who i am.
after all,
i know love because
you did not keep yours safe
but gave it away
for all your siblings.

(c) 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman