Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

Love's embrace...

12/10/2017

16 Comments

 
by Gwendolyn M Plano​
December is always a time of reflection for me. In 1980, on December 2nd, four of my friends were murdered in El Salvador. Maura, Ita, Dorothy and Jean’s only crime was love. They loved the impoverished, the suffering, the fearful, the alone. For this, they were killed.

Love startles and breaks open our hearts. We long for it, but it can frighten us by its bold claim. In my friends’ case, the Salvadorian regime decided that love threatened their power.  Maybe it always does. Aren’t we drawn to those who seem to grasp love’s terrain?  And as we draw near, doesn’t control or power take second place?

When I thought about the books I’ve read this year, five came to mind immediately, and I realized there was a common theme - love.  Each book is unlike the others, except that it uniquely addresses love.  Three of the books are non-fiction, two are fictionalized accounts of real situations.

Julie Watson shares the tragic loss of her baby and the profound love expressed in her work as a midwife. Lynda Filler takes readers on a journey in which she chooses to love and finds healing from a life-threatening disease. Harriet Hodgson writes from experience and training about loving as a caregiver. Billy Ray Chitwood contrasts innocence with corruption, and through powerful writing, he brings us into our own hearts. John W. Howell walks us through a life that has known both sorrow and joy and offers us a glimpse of eternity.

December’s lights and music, festive gatherings, and gift-giving are all part of our collective remembrance – of youthful dreams, of adult longings, and of a birth so long ago in a stable. I can't help but wonder about this birth, if the young mother was cold that night, or if she felt  frightened. I suspect, though, that Love's embrace both warmed and soothed her.

My wish for each of us this month is that we experience Love's embrace more deeply, more fully, more clearly - in our family gatherings, in our sorrows and joys, in our daily challenges. May we shine this December as brightly as the lights on our trees.

May we all have a very blessed and merry Christmas.   


Picture

16 Comments
john howell link
12/10/2017 06:51:28

a very thoughtful, warm , and moving post, Gwen. The loss of friends brings us to a point of thinking about not only them, but also, the power of love. Thank you for thinking of Circumstances of Childhood in the context of your post today. I am humbled to be in the company of these fine writers. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/10/2017 09:35:00

Thank you, John, for your comments and good wishes. Circumstances of Childhood is a powerful story which fits beautifully with with other selections. Have a wonderful day and a very Merry Christmas.

Reply
D.L. Finn
12/11/2017 02:18:00

A very moving blog, Gwen about how important love is. It is easy to lose sight of it when bad happens, but when we hold on to it we are lifted up. I believe it is important to focus on it juat a bit more this time of year. I know i am letting go of some "stuff" and embracing love again...a place that allows miracles. Thanks for the reminder.

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/11/2017 06:45:17

Thank you, dear D.L. How beautiful that you are embracing love and allowing miracles. I love that image. Have a wonderful day and thank you again. ♥

Reply
Davy D link
12/11/2017 05:33:33

A beautiful post Gwen and one which provides a timely reminder for these troubled times. Love, it seems, is being lost in today's society with the focus being on profit and self. At least we can try to keep love going through our writing, thoughts and actions. Have a blessed and merry Christmas to you and your family.

Reply
Gwen
12/11/2017 06:47:23

Thank you, Davy. I so appreciate your comments and of course your poems. All the best to you and yours; have a wonderful day.

Reply
Mae Clair link
12/11/2017 07:15:31

Beautiful and thoughtful post, Gwen. I love the line "May we shine this December as brightly as the lights on our trees."

Wishing you and yours a blessed and Merry Christmas.

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/11/2017 07:40:46

Thank you so much Mae. Blessings ♥

Reply
Jan Sikes link
12/11/2017 08:16:45

What a beautiful post, Gwen. I am in the middle of Circumstances of Childhood and have read Lynda's book. Billy Ray's is at the top of my list and I look forward to getting into it. The end of the year brings much reflection and that is as it should be. Thank you for your sweet loving spirit, Gwen. Your posts always touch my heart and brighten my day.

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/11/2017 11:46:19

Thank you so much, Jan. Blessings my friend. ♥

Reply
Billy Ray Chitwood link
12/11/2017 18:11:58

How very nice! Thank you for this very nice Christmas present. Bless you during the holiday season AND every day of every year! ♥

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/11/2017 18:23:51

Thank you, Billy Ray. Merry Christmas to you!

Reply
John Fioravanti
12/11/2017 18:59:13

A lovely post, Gwen - thoughtful and well written. I wish for you a beautiful Christmas with your family!

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/12/2017 06:31:06

Thank you, John. I hope Christmas with your beautiful family is overflowing with joy - and savory delights!

Reply
Julie Watson
12/12/2017 15:54:58

Dear Gwen, what a lovely post on your thoughts about love. Thank you so much for mentioning 'Born for Life' as a book that spoke to you about love. I am very touched and honoured. Have a very happy and blessed Christmas and wishing you a wonderful year ahead.

Reply
Gwen Plano
12/12/2017 18:56:41

Thank you, Julie. Your beautiful book moved me deeply. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama, Sumarie Slabber, denisbin, Go-tea 郭天