I've always been a romantic :) Often, I hear the words I Love You and they never fail to bring smiles all over. And I like that ... I tend to smile myself, actually. But when it's time for me to say it myself, it seems to be the most difficult unless it comes FROM the heart ... my heart. And truly, there have been moments so significant when my lips spoke each word ... and I know that it could only come FROM deep within.

Friends and colleagues say it ever so casually. Likewise, a lover can be moved to utter the same thing at the spur of passion. But when trials come INTO the picture, they fold up. And you ask yourself if I Love You does have a meaning at all.

In a get-together with friends, I asked them how far they would go -- after they said, I Love You, to their special someone. Almost all of them said that there's no need to go far. Bluntly speaking, they said it's the easiest to utter because all their partners want is to hear it often -- just say it often and you make someone happy. One even winked at me and said, "Face it Cristina, people are simply suckers to the words I Love You -- but it need not mean a thing."

Can't judge them, actually -- and they're still my friends. I guess, I just have to understand their perspective ... on the other hand, I guess my perspective has always been different.

Honestly, I am no authority when it comes to this subject matter but I remember a parable I shared with someone so dear to me when I was trying to make him understand where I was coming from. I'd like to share that in this channel, too ... to anyone who would find the time to listen to this :) Here goes ...

There was once a king who ruled 3 kingdoms and had 3 sons. He was growing old and weary and he felt he should start distributing his kingdoms among his sons. But he must be sure about their hearts and he only had one question in mind for each of them.

He first chose to ask his favorite son, the youngest, "How much do you love me?"

"Wider and deeper than the oceans, my king ... I would swim the most dangerous waters just to be there for you," he said.

The king was pleased at what he heard and said, "I am old and need someone to take care of my kingdom in the South ... I shall give that to you this very instance."

And he did. So the youngest rode away to rule his father's Southern kingdom.

The king then asked his middle son, "How much do you love me?"

"Endless as the heavens, my king ... I will reach for the farthest stars and pluck each one for you, as I will give you anything even if it will mean my life."

The king felt good at what he heard and said, "For that, I will give you my kingdom in the near West ... and you can have all of it this very moment."

And he did. So the middle son rode away to rule his father's kingdom where the sun sets.

Finally, the king called for his eldest son. And he asked again, "How much do you love your king?"

The young man smiled and said, "You are my father and my king. I love you with all my heart."

The king stood with apparent disapproval. He said, "You who would be heir to this throne of mine do not prove your worth! FROM now on, you will fight with my army in the farthest of lands and will not be heir to this throne until I see that you deserve my crown."

The eldest prince could not understand the king's disappointment -- still, he obeyed his father's will. He was sent to the biggest army away FROM the kingdom. There, he fought side by side with the bravest and most noble of soldiers ... as if he was a soldier himself. The general was so pleased with the young prince but could not treat him with preference. He must treat him like anyone else.

Then one day, the most unusual thing happened. The king's palace met with conquering forces and the kingdom's defenses were slowly crumbling. He sent word to his youngest son but the son felt that he must anticipate that his kingdom will be attacked next. So he reinforced his kingdom with more men and sent no one to his father.

The king then sent word to his middle son and the 2nd prince would not risk riding with his army to his father's rescue for his kingdom would be lost if he dies in combat.

The king had but a trusted servant by his side left. The servant said he had to go and the king asked, "Must you leave me, too?"

And the servant said, "Do not lose hope."

The palace was overpowered. The king was taken to the dungeon and was set for execution a few days later. Came the day and everyone was forced to witness the end of the king. The crowd was unusually huge. As the king climbed the platform where his executioner awaits, a strange thing happened. He was forced on his knees for beheading and as the large axle swung, he heard a heavy thump by his side ... but it was no blade. It was the lifeless body of his executioner. Then a strong hand pulled him up ... the other strong hand of this same man, fencing through angry adversaries. The king was too weak but as he tried to clear his eyes, he saw other men in the crowd removing their hoods and hats to reveal the great army that he sent so far away. Then as he and the man who held him made their way down the platform, he saw his general and the strongest of his soldiers, waiting to surround him as human shields.Later, another roar of voices and he saw men in armour, charging under the general's signal. His subjugators were simply no match against the king's reinforcements ... finally, the battle was won.

The king was served with the best doctors and as he regained consciousness, he summoned his general to thank him. He even promised him the highest of honors. The general knelt before the king and said, "I do not deserve any of that ... for I would not have known of your plight had it not been for your son."

The king was confused. Which son?

Then the trusted servant came forward and said, "Since you sent your eldest away, he made me promise to watch over you and make sure that he was informed of everything that was happening to you ... when the enemies came, I rode at once to tell him and he spoke immediately with the general to prepare the men. But they were too far away to respond in time."

The general then told the king of how the eldest prince drew a strategy to send a squad incognito to find out if the king was still alive. They moved in as soon as the king's condition was certain."Your son fought bravely, my king," said the general. "He risked being on that platform to pull you away FROM certain death. He was dressed among the monks."

At that, the king cried for he remembered the strong hands that fought through enemies to carry him to safety."Is he dead? My son, is he dead?" And he cried all the more.

Everyone was silent. He ordered his trusted servant to help him up. The pain deep within was too great to bear and he longed to see his son. As he stepped outside the palace grounds, he saw soldiers sparring with each other in training. They stopped at the sight of their king and raised their swords, cheering. The king ran his eyes across each beaming face. Then not too far, he saw a young bearded man in a tattered, bloodstained robe ... a monk's robe. The king couldn't be certain but something drew him to the young man.As the young man tried to slip away, the king ordered him to stop -- and the young man obeyed. The king mustered enough strength to stand on his own, releasing himself FROM the servant's helping hands. As he came near the young man, he spread his arms and walked toward him. He was still weak and he almost stumbled ... but strong hands held him before he even fell. Then he heard the young man say, "I told them not to tell you."

The king looked at him and smiled, "They didn't. But you love me too much for you to just die without letting me know."Both men burst INTO laughter. And father and son embraced.

:) Gee, that story never fails to touch my being.

That's the end of it, actually. Ok, so it's father-&-son stuff. But for me, no matter what relationship ... friend to another friend ... man and woman ... the same principle must be true. There are simply so many rhetorics to say the words I Love You and it just feels so facinating when you hear them said in the most elaborate fashion. But rhetorics crumble with crisis and confusion.

Yet, a person who reaches FROM the heart and goes far to give meaning when saying the words I Love You will transform mere words to the truth ... and then it becomes something worth living for.

So that's it ... time for dinner by my timezone :)