The Gift of Love

Lora loves sharing her insights and life experience through the medium of writing whether it is a poem, story, or essay.

The Power of Love In Helping Us To Improve Our Lives

These poems are about the power of love in changing our lives for the better by encouraging us to follow our hearts and dreams in guiding us to find our unique destiny. Love also enables us to reach our full human potential by cultivating compassion for all the living beings on our great planet thus expanding our consciousness and appreciating the true miracle that all life is.

The Dawn of A New Day

Today I Say A Prayer For The Gift of Love

Today, I see a lovely flower

and look at it as if for the first time.

I see how beautiful my child is

and thank God for the most precious gift

which he has given me.

I look at her soft, radiant eyes and

her sweet little face;

I feel her little body wrapped in my arms...

so grateful to have her to love and to hold.

Let me realize just how valuable is today...

to explore my talents,

no matter how they may be judged;

free me from restraint to tell those that I love,

to fully experience the breadth

of my humanity...

not to cower in a corner-

always afraid to reach out

or speak what I believe to be true.

Awaken my spirituality,

let me experience what it is like

to stand on a mountain top-

filled with a moment of eternity,

to feel part of what was before...

now... and will be.

Let something of me remain after I'm gone-

to reveal that I lived and had something to say.

Give me insight to see before I act

so as not to cause another pain or injury.

Let me have empathy for all sentient beings...

to realize there's a sanctity about all life,

and let not money or power corrupt my soul...

help me today to stop excusing my limitations

by accepting the challenge to

change and become a better person.

-Lora Hollings

"I Choose Love" ~ Shawn Gallaway

This is a video which shows how we can choose to live our lives with love and create a more peaceful world uniting us all as one people who can tackle important challenges of the future such as climate change, saving our wildlife, and our planet. We have the choice to create a brighter tomorrow for our children and future generations- a world where there's no place for hatred or violence toward any living being. A world where we all learn to respect each other for the special gifts that we have and where all people have a chance to contribute these gifts and lead rewarding lives.

To Feel The Miracle of Love

Surely This Must Be Heaven

Surely this must be heaven...

when I can look up into the treetops

and see the light rays streaming

through gently swaying leaves.

Surely this must be heaven...

when you hold me in your arms

with such tenderness,

and I hear the beating of your heart

so close to mine.

Surely this must be heaven...

when my little dog

with his calming presence

helps to relieve the burden of my worries

and loves me so devotedly.

Surely this must be heaven,

when I feel my child

in the grasp of an embrace...

and I thank God

for the precious gift of life-

to feel the miracle of love.

~Lora Hollings

Let's be Friends - Dolphin and Dog Become True Friends

Animals also show an amazing capacity to form deep bonds of affection with each other even with members from another species enriching their lives as well.
We see in this video of a true friendship between a dolphin and a dog that these animals' affection for each other not only parallels our own but that they have the capacity for empathy or the ability to understand and share the feelings of others too. Thus we cannot limit the capacity to feel love only to human beings.

Cute Cat Befriends Dolphins - We Don't Have To Be Alike to Be Friends

Cat befriends dolphins in this charming video which shows that animals, once again, can develop bonds of friendship with each other even crossing the boundaries between species. Maybe animals can teach us to be more tolerant of our differences, and instead connect with others on a deeper, more spiritual level.

Live your Life With Love and Treasure the Beauty of the Moment

Quotes About Life and Love

"The love we give away is the only love we keep."
-Elbert Hubbard

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change."
-Siddhartha Buddha

Love does not dominate. It cultivates.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

"Compassion is the chief law of human existence."
-Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching."-Randall G. Leighton

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."
-Ashley Smith

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."
-James Dean

"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."
-Flora Whittemore

"I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works."
-Oscar Wilde

"Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live."
-Maria Robinson

Looking back, I have this to regret: that too often when I loved, I did not say so.
-David Grayson

Love does not dominate. It cultivates.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Love does not die easily. It is a living thing. It thrives in the face of all life's hazards, save one: neglect.
-James Bryden

© 2019 Lora Hollings

Comments

Lora Hollings (author) on September 21, 2020:

Rosina, thanks for your insightful and beautiful comment! I think we all need to reach out and treat other species with more respect and place a much higher value on their lives. Even if just one species becomes extinct, it effects so many others in the web of life and consequently it will have an effect on our species as well. And how boring our world would be, if we become one of the only surviving species! Have a wonderful week.

Rosina S Khan on September 21, 2020:

Your poetry gives the strong message that not only human beings should love each other but also reach out to other species because animals are capable of loving other members of another species. I thoroughly loved the quotes by spiritual leaders. Thank you, Lora- I enjoyed this article immensely.

Laurinzoscott from Kanab, Utah on March 29, 2020:

Wow this is so powerfully positive...this poetry and prayer...it is a powerfull praise and song unto GOD...more of us should be so grateful...nice

Lora Hollings (author) on February 20, 2020:

Layne, thanks much for dropping by and I'm so complimented that you love my poems. Yes, humans can learn from other species that we can be different but still be friends! Love has no boundaries, how true. Your comment is appreciated. Have a great weekend, my friend!

Laynie H from Bend, Oregon on February 13, 2020:

Hi Lora, always love your poems. How timely to write a poem of love for February. I love that you show unusual animal friends. Humans can learn from other species . . . that love has no boundaries.

Lora Hollings (author) on January 30, 2020:

Brenda, thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment. I'm complimented that you liked my poetry and enjoyed the videos! It is amazing how animals that you wouldn't expect to form friendships do. And they look forward to seeing each other again. Yes, Zeus and the dolphin are amazing together but so is the cat making friends with the two dolphins. Have a great day!

BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on January 30, 2020:

Lora,

Your poetry is quite refreshing.

It reminds me to not take things for granted and reach out to love everything and everyone.

This quote is my favorite: "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching."-Randall G. Leighton

All your videos were great.

I especially loved the one with the dog and the dolphin. The one with the kitty tugged at my heart too.

Great write.

Lora Hollings (author) on December 19, 2019:

Thank you Denise for reading my article and commenting. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the poems and videos. Dolphins are truly extraordinary! I love them too.

Denise McGill from Fresno CA on December 18, 2019:

The dolphins are very loving creatures. It is remarkable. I love the child's hug best.

Blessings,

Denise

Lora Hollings (author) on December 17, 2019:

So happy that you found my writings uplifting and that my article made you smile, Alyssa. Thanks much my friend for your gracious comment.

Alyssa from Ohio on December 16, 2019:

What uplifting pieces, Lora! This article made me smile. Thank you my friend!

Lora Hollings (author) on December 10, 2019:

Thank you, Nithya, for visiting and I'm honored by your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed my article. Bless you!

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on December 10, 2019:

Beautifully expressed poems loved them all. Great quotes and videos. I enjoyed reading.

Lora Hollings (author) on December 06, 2019:

Thanks for reading, Liz and your comment is appreciated. I'm complimented that you enjoyed the poetry and the other features of my article. Have a wonderful weekend!

Liz Westwood from UK on December 06, 2019:

Great poetry in an article filled with variety.

Lora Hollings (author) on December 03, 2019:

Mary, I'm so glad to hear that you are now a confident person and that you feel good about yourself due to the love that you received and gave to others. Love can enable us to do so many things that we may never have learned to do. It truly works magic in our lives. I appreciate your wonderful and insightful comment. Bless you!

Lora Hollings (author) on December 03, 2019:

Thank you for your visit and lovely comment, Ms Dora. I really enjoyed writing these poems. There is so much to be grateful for! Many blessings to you.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on December 03, 2019:

Such purity, beauty and gratitude in the poems. Great quotes too. Thanks for the lovely presentation.

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on December 02, 2019:

I visited a friend two weeks ago and saw our old pictures. I saw how I was in all of them. I looked as if was hiding who I am. They all told me then to stand up straight but I just was not able then. Years of being loved and learning to love strengthened me. Now nobody tells me to stand straight as I move with grace and confidence. It took years but it happened.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 30, 2019:

My dear friend thank for your gracious words which add much beauty and sunshine to my day. Your words resonate with love and kindness. With much gratitude, Manatita, for your visit and your gracious comment. Many blessings to you!

manatita44 from london on November 30, 2019:

My Sweet, sweeter … sweetest friend, there's so much beauty here … in the silent music of your words … in the soul-stirring piece of your video and in the energy you convey … in Silence. Bless you!! Om Shanti!!

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Yes, he is cute but he isn't a young pup any more! Ernie was adopted when he was 16 weeks old and now he's almost 16 years old but very spry, still loves to go for walks, and chase the cats now and then! Thanks for stopping by and for your lovely comment, Flourish. Best Wishes!

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Jason, thanks for reading and I appreciate your gracious comment. I'm happy to hear that you found the poems to be inspiring and liked the quotes as well. Have a great weekend!

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

And thank goodness that you were adopted by these two loving people who shared that love with you! They did an awesome job in raising you to be a wise person who teaches others profound insights through your writing. I hope that many other children will also be adopted by loving parents and be given the gift of love. Thanks for reading, Bill, and your comment is appreciated.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Thanks Layne for the read and I’m happy that you found the poems meaningful and enjoyed the videos. Dogs have such an amazing ability to live in the present. They can be such good teachers in this respect! They can also teach us about loving unconditionally.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

So true! Those who have others that love and care about them are among the most fortunate people. And if we all spent more time in improving our relationships with our children and significant others, I think we would all be happier. Thank you, Chitrangada, for reading and for your wonderful comment. Blessings to you.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Thanks for reading, Cattaleya. And I'm honored that you enjoyed my poetry and the quotes. You are so right! It is the little things that really add up to the big things that make such a difference in life. Sometimes, we delude ourselves into thinking that success and wealth are going to make us happy but then we discover that this just isn't so. It is often times, the things that we take for granted that mean the most. And many times, sadly, we may wake up too late. We need to appreciate the people, the animals in our lives, and the beauty of living life to its fullest right now. Have a great weekend!

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Thank you Pamela for your visit. I'm very complimented by your generous comment. I couldn't agree more with you. Showing and expressing love is essential for the well-being of all of us, our emotional and physical health. Have a wonderful weekend!

FlourishAnyway from USA on November 29, 2019:

This was a delightful treat on a busy Black Friday. Your poems expressed such caring sentiments and the videos were heartwarming. Cute pup you have!

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Brenda, I appreciate you reading my article and leaving a comment. I'm delighted that you enjoyed my poems, the videos and the quotes. We can choose love and peace. It's up to us to decide what kind of a world we want to live in. Blessings to you.

Jason Nicolosi from AZ on November 29, 2019:

Lora, I adored this collection of poems. Truly beautifully written. Nice pick on the quotes too. A very enjoyable uplifting read. Thanks.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 29, 2019:

Yes, we all need to put our differences aside and work together to really address the critical issues of our time. I agree with you, Lorna. We can create a more peaceful world where we respect each other or we can continue to have wars, be self-centered and ignore the most important issues that face us and where will that lead to? Thanks so much for reading and for your wonderful comment. Have a great day!

Laynie H from Bend, Oregon on November 29, 2019:

I especially love your inclusion of the the dolphin and dog friendship. Beautifully written poems that hold a lot of meaning.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on November 29, 2019:

I am alive today because two loving people decided to share their love with a blind orphan kid many years ago. I'm a believer in the power of love.

Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on November 29, 2019:

Beautifully expressed!

I loved your poems and the quotes. They are all my favourite ones and I often quote them in my posts.

I agree with you that love is basis of all relationships. Those who have it in their lives—for themselves and for others, are the richest people.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful hub.

Tiyasha Maitra from Gurgaon on November 29, 2019:

Such beautiful words and imagery Lora. I loved reading your poems as well as the quotes. Haven't seen the videos yet, but I am bookmarking the page so I can return later.

You have expressed the presence of love in the little things so well.

Such inspiring words. I feel elevated after reading them. Very good job on this.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on November 29, 2019:

What a wonderful message in this article! The poetry was so sweet and beautiful and the quotes were excellent. Yesterday with some of my family I was thinking about how love is so important. Thank goodness we all get along and have a very good time together.

Love does not dominate. It cultivates. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I think this quote is so true. This is a wonderfully well-written article.

Lorna Lamon on November 29, 2019:

A wonderful collection of poems and quotes which remind me of the need to put our differences aside and embrace the fact that we are all equal. I was moved by the last verse of your first poem which is so inspirational. The quote which resonated with me and one which shows compassion for all things is "Compassion is the chief law of human existence. A very spiritual and moving experience Lora - beautiful.

BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on November 29, 2019:

I love this work you have created.

My favorite is "Surely this must be heaven" but they are all good.

I enjoyed the videos as well.

The quotes at the end are a nice touch.

Thanks for sharing.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 28, 2019:

Thank you for dropping by Rosina and I’m deeply complimented by your comment. It’s always good to hear when readers enjoy your work! Have a great weekend.

Lora Hollings (author) on November 28, 2019:

John, I’m just elated that you enjoyed my article so much and especially the poems. You made my Thanksgiving extra special! Thank you for reading and for your gracious comment. I can’t take credit for the painting done by Chris O’Malley. I love that song by Shawn Galloway too. We should all choose love! Have a wonderful weekend.

Rosina S Khan on November 28, 2019:

This is an excellent article, Lora rich with lovely poetry, images, videos, and quotes. I love all of it. It couldn't have been better. Thank you for your generous contribution.

John Hansen from Gondwana Land on November 28, 2019:

Lora, this is a simply amazing hub. I am bookmarking it to refer to often, it is so inspiring and uplifting. Your poetry is brilliant and the videos touching. I had to share them all. I just love that song by Shawn Galloway, I Choose Love. Great work. If that painting of the mother and child was done by you .. I love it too.