Showing the Love in Your Heart

By President Thomas S. Monson

From “The Doorway of Love,” Ensign, Oct. 1996, 2–3, 5, 7.

President Monson loves poetry. He often quotes poems in his talks, including the poem below, “Which Loved Best?” It was printed in an old textbook that helped teach children how to read.

Showing the Love in Your Heart

Love causes change. Love brings healing to the soul. But love doesn’t grow like weeds or fall like rain.

Jesus taught, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

Little children can learn the lesson of love. They respond readily to a favorite verse:

“I love you, mother,” said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

“I love you, mother,” said rosy Nell;
“I love you better than tongue can tell;”
Then she teased and pouted full half the day,
Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.

“I love you, mother,” said little Fan;
“To-day I’ll help you all I can;
How glad I am that school doesn’t keep!”
So she rocked the babe till it fell asleep.

Then, stepping softly, she fetched the broom,
And swept the floor, and dusted the room;
Busy and happy all day was she,
Helpful and happy as child could be.

“I love you, mother,” again they said—
Three little children going to bed;
How do you think that mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?
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The desire to lift, the willingness to help, and the graciousness to give come from a heart filled with love. True love is a reflection of Christ’s love.

An Old-Fashioned Poem

See if you can guess what some of the old-fashioned words in the poem mean.

1.
He was off to the garden swing.
1. a.
  He went to play on the swing in his yard.
2. b.
  He went to swing the hoe in his vegetable garden.
2.
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.
1. a.
  His mother had to bring in the wooden toys that had been left outside.
2. b.
  His mother had to bring in wood to burn in the family’s stove that keeps the house warm.
3.
Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.
1. a.
  Her mother didn’t love her or want to be around her.
2. b.
  Her mother was relieved because she was tired of hearing her teasing and seeing her pouting.
4.
How glad I am that school doesn’t keep.
1. a.
  I’m glad that there is no school today.
2. b.
  I’m glad that we don’t have a school nearby.

Answers

Three Meanings of Love

(click to view larger)

Illustrations by Scott Jarrard

Love has at least three different meanings: (1) It is a feeling in your heart. (2) It is a word you can say. (3) It is an action. The best way to show the love you feel in your heart is to tell others you love them and do something nice for them too.

Look at these pictures. What can the child in each situation do to show love for someone? Color the four scenes.

1) a, 2) b, 3) b, 4) a.

Show References

Note

1.
Joy Allison, “Which Loved Best?” in McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader (1879), 146–47.

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