I'm a bit of a romantic. If were to ask my family they would actually tell you that I'm a-whole-lot-of-a-bit-of-a-romantic :) And while I guess it's nice to have a specific day of the year to remind those around you how much you love and appreciate them, it's sometimes feels a little bit forced and cheesy. Don't get me wrong, I like flowers and chocolate as much as any other girl, but it's the day to day servant love that always catches my eye and makes my heart flutter. In a world filled with hollywood kisses and breathtaking love stories, it's easy to forget what love actually is. We been taught to scorn simple love that serves selflessly, loves tirelessly, and sticks with you through all the gritty messiness of life, because it doesn't always have the flash and make-your-heart-skip a beat kind of feel to it.
And so on this "day of love" I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite love stories. Not hollywood, or Kardashian kinds of love stories, (thank goodness theres something more than that!) but little peeks into what was obviously a life of committed selfless love for their best friend.
A letter from Ronald Reagan to Nancy on their 20th anniversary.
In case you can't read the small print and curly handwriting, I've written it out here for you to read:
My Darling Wife
This not is to warn you of a diabolical plot entered into by some of our so called friends --(ha!) calendar makers and even out own children. These and other would have you believe we've been married 20 years.
20 Minutes maybe -- but never 20 years. In the first place it is a known fact that a human cannot sustain the high level of happiness I feel, for more than a few minutes -- and my happiness keeps on increasing.
I will confess to one puzzlement but I'm sure it is just some trick perpetrated by our friends --(Ha again!) I can't remember ever being without you and I know I was born more than 20 minutes ago.
Oh well -- that isn't important. The important thing is I don't want to be without you for the next 20 years, or 40, or however many there are. I've goten very used to being happy and I love you very much indeed.
Your Husband of 20 something or other.
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I've posted this video before I think...but I just keep coming back to it. It is an excerpt from Robert McQuilkin's resignation speech, when he resigned as president of Columbia Bible College so that he could stay home and take care of his wife. I tear up every time I hear it.
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"They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is beloved of that great Being who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him—that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that he loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from him always. There she is to dwell with him, and to be ravished with his love and delight forever…. She has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in her affections; is most just and conscientious in all her conduct; and you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind; especially after this great God has manifested himself to her mind…. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her."
--A love letter written from Jonathan Edwards to his wife-to-be, Sarah.
Happy Valentines Day!
Much Love,
Jessica Shae
