When my stepson (11 now) was really little. Maybe 3? He looked at me and said, “I love you.” And I said, “I love you too.” And then, with all the wonder in the world and magic in his eyes, he said, “No, I mean I really, really love you.”
I smiled and asked him what the difference was. He thought for a moment, his tiny face serious, as if he was trying to solve the greatest mystery ever known. Then he wrapped his little arms around my neck and whispered, “Because when I love you, I want you to stay forever.”
For a second, I couldn’t speak. Children have a way of saying things so simply, yet so deeply, that they reach places in your heart you didn’t even know existed. To him, love wasn’t about gifts, words, or grand gestures. It was about feeling safe. It was about knowing someone would be there no matter what.
Years have passed since that day. He’s taller now, wiser, and not nearly as eager to give hugs in public. But every once in a while, I see that same little boy in his smile. And whenever I remember those words, I’m reminded that the purest definition of love I’ve ever heard came from a three-year-old child who simply wanted the people he loved to stay forever.
