The Language of Love

The Language of Love

(A little girl and her father appear on stage, walking along together. They are holding hands. When they reach the center of the stage, the little girl suddenly stops, pulling on her Dad’s hand. He looks down at her, and she begins.)

Little Girl: Hey, Daddy?

Dad: Yes, sweetheart?

Little Girl: Can you show me love?

Dad: Love?

Little Girl: Love.

Dad: Show you what it is? (He thinks). Well, it’s whenever I kiss mommy on the cheek, or give you a big bear hug (he picks her up and hugs her while he’s saying this, and she laughs in delight).

Little Girl: No!

Dad: No?

Little Girl: How does everyone know what love is?

Dad: What do you mean?

Little Girl: There are a lot of languages in the world, right?

Dad: Well, yes, I guess there are.

Little Girl: So how is it that every person who speaks every language understands what love is?

Dad: Well that’s because love has its own language.

Little Girl: Really?

Dad: Sure. Spoken languages are used to communicate with others, like if I waned to say your dress looks nice or if that fish at the grocery store smells bad. But love has its own special language that we use all the time.

Little Girl: When?

Dad: When I bake a cake for you, or help you with your homework.

Little Girl: That’s love?

Dad: That’s love. It’s doing the little things to show someone else you care about them a lot. And everyone, regardless of what language they speak, can understand it.

Little Girl: Everyone?

Dad: Everyone.

Girl: So that means that every human can love. Right, Daddy?

Dad: That’s right, sweetheart.

Girl: But why is that?

Dad: Why is what?

Girl: That we can all love, and know when we are loved. How can we all be born knowing the language of love?

Dad: I’ve never met anyone who couldn’t understand it. It’s just a part of who we are. Love is a feeling, so all we do is take that feeling and put it into words as a way to show how we feel. That way, anyone can understand us, no matter how many differences there are.

Girl: But how do any of us truly know what love is, anyway?

Dad: Because we have others to show us, to teach us and remind us, that doing good in the world brings happiness to not only ourselves, but to others as well. That, my child, is love. (He pats her on the head). You’ll understand it some day. You only need time.

(They begin walking offstage. The little girl pauses for a moment, then looks up again.)

Girl: Hey, Daddy?

Dad: Yes, sweetheart?

Girl: I’m going to ask Mommy if she can help me make a big cake tonight for all of us.

Dad: (smiles) I’m sure she will, Amy. I’m sure she will.

CURTAIN