My Treat for Women Celebrating their Wedding Anniversaries This Month - A Poem by E. Browning

20. March 2010 by admin.

In recognition of the women celebrating their paper, tin/aluminum, ivory, china or silver wedding anniversaries for the month of March,  I would like to salute you for the dedication, faithfulness and commitment to your vows.  With the lures and temptations around us,  it seems like fidelity and commitment are fast losing their place in this world.  So, hats off to all of you  and keep it up!!!

Marriage is an open-ended commitment. No one knows if one or the other would be faithful to the end.  But it is possible - only it requires more than strength  of a Superman - a strength of a Divine Nature who will give you the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and self-control . As time passes by,   there may be arguments among couples, they  may grow tired, and sometimes be overwhelmed but they will never be bored with marriage or with each other.

This long forgotten wonderful poem written in 1849 by a woman named Elizabeth B. Browning only reflects that faithfulness is indeed possible despite the trials and tribulations in life.  It is about their lives which primarily have been lived out in the strength of their love.  The poem goes like this:

How Do I Love Thee? - By Elizabeth B. Browning

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the end of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I  seemed to lose

With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after …..

Once again, I trust this will give you inspiration and encouragement as you travail the paths of marriage life.  A job well done!

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