A group of professionals posed a simple question to a class of children aged 4 to 8:

“What does love mean?”

The answers they received were more heartfelt and insightful than anyone could have ever imagined.

“When my grandma got arthritis, she couldn’t bend down to paint her toenails anymore, so my grandpa does it for her, even though his hands hurt too. That’s love.”

– Rebecca, age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know your name is safe in their mouth.”

– Billy, age 4

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume, and a boy puts on cologne, and they go out and smell each other.”

– Karl, age 5

“Love is when you go out to eat and give someone most of your fries without asking for any of theirs.”

– Chrissy, age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

– Terri, age 4

“Love is when my mom makes coffee for my dad and takes a sip first, just to make sure it’s right.” – Danny, age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you on Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.”

– Bobby, age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you don’t like.”

– Nikka, age 6
(We need a few million more Nikkas in the world.)

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it every day.”

– Noelle, age 7

“Love is like an old woman and an old man who are still friends even though they know each other so well.”

– Tommy, age 6

“During my piano recital, I was scared, but when I looked out and saw my daddy smiling and waving, I wasn’t scared anymore.”

– Cindy, age 8

“My mom loves me more than anyone else. You don’t see anyone else kissing me goodnight.”

– Clare, age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”

– Elaine, age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy all sweaty and still says he’s handsomer than Robert Redford.”

– Chris, age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”

– Mary Ann, age 4

“I know my big sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”

– Lauren, age 4

“When you love someone, your eyelashes go up and down, and little stars come out of you.”

– Karen, age 7

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and doesn’t think it’s gross.”

– Mark, age 6

“You shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot because people forget.”

– Jessica, age 8

And finally, a four-year-old boy who lived next door to an elderly man who had just lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man crying, the little boy went into his yard, climbed into his lap, and just sat there.

When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the boy replied, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”