Our children are easier to love than other people.  But other people are still worthy of love.
Cats and dogs are easier to love than bugs and toads.  But bugs and toads need love too.
Roses and lilies are easier to love than skunk cabbage.  But weeds require love also.
Diamonds and rubies are easier to love than sandstone.  But the mountains need love as much as anything else.
The sea, the sky, the whole planet needs love as well as everything living on it.  We need to love everything because love is the thread that connects us to everything and makes us part of the Whole, the One.  We need to love everything and everyone because, as Native Americans have always taught, everything has a spirit and that spirit come from God.  St. Francis could see the spirits in everything and that is why he called the animals, plants, even the sun and the moon his brothers and sisters.