Dancing in the Kitchen

I woke up early and walked downstairs into the kitchen.

Before I even opened the door, I could hear two people laughing. When I opened it, I smelled freshly made pancakes and saw my mom and dad dancing together. Their noses almost touched. They smiled widely, holding each other gently.

Dad saw me first. He kissed Mom and walked over to me.

“You’re already awake? Go wake up your brother and sister, and we’ll finish making breakfast.”

Once everyone was awake and seated at the table, I asked my dad:

“Papa, will I ever love anyone the way you love Mom?”

“Maybe,” he said. “If God awakens it in you.”

“Why does God have to do that?” I asked.

“Because if the person you love rejects you, only God can help you get through it.”

“But Dad, why should I love someone if they might not feel the same way?”

“Son, love is a great gift, never a curse. True love is from above.

And true love is a risk.

You can either risk being crushed or never know what it feels like to fly.”

After grabbing another pancake, I said:

“I’ll welcome love. Maybe one day I'll love someone the way you love Mom.”