The Chapters of My Love Story
The first chapter of my love story began when I was a little girl seeing the adoring love that my mom and dad had for each other. I witnessed their sweet affection for each other. In fact, my dad couldn’t keep his hands off my mom. “Roscoe, QUIT!” She would cry out when he was waaay too affectionate in public for her very prim and proper ways. They were my first example of true love. I think that’s why I’m a hugger today! Be forewarned!
The next love chapter was the love of my boyfriend who became my precious husband a few years later. What a wild and crazy adventure we took on by marrying at 17 and 18 when we hardly knew anything about life. But we kept practicing and before long, we had learned many trial-and-error lessons. We never stopped learning about life and each other.
Then, turn the pages to the love chapter of starting our family — 3 months into marriage. Love took on a whole new meaning when it produced our most treasured possessions – our two beloved children. We hardly knew how to take care of ourselves, never mind two children. I apologized to them many times for my mistakes along the way. In remorse, I’d say: “Please forgive me! I’m new at this!”
We wrote many chapters in our many years that followed: the right things to do to show love; things NOT to do that takes love tokens out of our “love” bank; setting a good love example for others to follow, and loving each other for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health until death parted us.
I began a new love chapter on Valentine’s Day this year when I worked at the Vincentian Family Center. I LOVE seeing not-so-well-off people come in and get some amazing items at very low prices. Some of those people even get a voucher that pays for their purchases.
I also love the well-to-do people coming in because they know they can find some incredible deals at pennies on the dollar compared to a department store. This day, I witnessed some couples come into the thrift store. They CHOSE thrifting for their Valentine’s activity together.
Me, overseeing the jewelry counters, had set up “red” as the color to draw people in. Sure enough, an older gentleman was perusing the area. I asked: “Looking for something for your wife?” He replied: “My wife doesn’t want me to buy her anything.” I looked at him and said: “That might be what she says – but just think how she might feel if you bring her over here and tell her you’d like her to pick out anything she wants. He did. And she loaded up with several necklace and bracelet sets. I helped with THEIR love story!
At the end of my day, I headed to my grandson’s baseball game. Precious family time on Valentine’s! Bonus was our team winning….big time!
I came home to this beautiful floral arrangement from my son sitting at my front door. He never misses showing me the love on Valentine’s that include the yellow roses that my sweetheart always gave me.
What a beautiful “love” season to be in! I am thankful! I love to give love, and I’ve learned to receive love. I’ve learned that compassion sowed, is compassion reaped; kindness given is kindness received. Through God’s great LOVE example of the gift of His Son to us, you and I can be that someone to someone else. We are chips off the ole’ block — and our BLOCK gave to us BIG TIME. Tuesday, I was the recipient of God’s love through others.
Today, I plan on planting love and compassion and kindness – not to receive, but to give. I assure you, however, God just can’t help Himself. When He sees His kids taking after Him, He just pours it on for us even more.
Every chapter of my love story is interweaved with God’s great love for me. BTW — yours is too!