Wednesday, February 14, 2007

A Love Story on Valentine's Day

A Love Story on Valentine's Day

Many years ago, there was a tall, handsome Irishman who was courting his lady friend. They loved to walk. Walking over the hills and in the dales was most pleasant to both of them. Oftentimes he would tell her of his home town across the sea in Ulster and he would talk often all about the wee loughs where he loved to just sit and day dream (and do some fishing!).

She would tell him of her favorite places in Ontario as well and in time, they both realized that they were interested in the similar things. They both loved to discuss scripture together and share their love for their Lord Jesus Christ.

On one walk, as her skirt and crinolines swished back and forth, he tenderly took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. They had been walking all evening. On and on they walked, he holding her hand in his.

At one lovely place, he decided that they should stop and rest awhile. She drank in the beautiful view of the blue-green hills in the distance. He didn't want to let go of her hand and then their gazes met and as she looked into his blue eyes, she knew she loved him.

He asked her if she would "come to his wedding." What a different way this Irishman had of proposing to her, she thought. She, being in a playful mood, asked if he would like her to be the organist at his wedding.

"No," he replied.

"Bridesmaid?", she asked.

"No".

"Maid of Honour?"

"No"

"Soloist?"

"Well,. . . maybe". . .

He then told her that it was the Bride at his wedding that he wanted her to be!

Thinking she wasn't at all as pretty as she should be in his eyes, she expressed these feelings to him that lovely autumn evening whereupon he started to sing to her an Irish song of the early 1800's with the most beautiful words she had ever heard.

Believe me if all those
Endearing young charms
Which I gaze on so fondly today
Were to change by tomorrow
And fleet in my arms,
Like fairy gifts fading away
Thou would'st still be adored
As this moment thou art
Let thy loveliness fade as it will
And around the dear ruin
Each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself
Verdantly still.

He only sang the first verse to his young maiden 46 years ago and when he finished singing, I said, "Yes, Jack, I will be your bride." And he also held me to my promise that I would sing at his wedding!

Here is the second verse:

It is not while beauty
and youth are thine own And thy cheeks profaned by a tear That the ferver and faith
of a soul can be known To which time will but
make thee more dear No the heart that has truly loved Never forgets But as truly loves on to the close As the sunflower turns
on her god when he sets The same look which she'd turned
when he rose.

All this took place in September 1960 and we had been courting since shortly after he stepped off the ship (Cunard Liner Sylvania) arriving in Canada from Northern Ireland in early July.

He saved his money carefully and it was on an elevator somewhere between the 5th and 15th floor in a huge office building in Toronto that he gave me a beautiful engagement ring on February 14th, 1961 after a courtship from July 1960 and we married on May 20th, the same year. And we were still in love....as much as we were back then in 1961, when Jack was promoted to Glory on January 10, 2001!

1961

2000

16 comments:

talj said...

A beautiful post, very moving.

(((HUGS))) and valentines wishes to you Pat xx

Anna Ridley said...

A sweet, romantic and everlasting love story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Happy Valentine's Day {{{HUGS}}}

Love always,
Me xox

utenzi said...

That's a delightful post, Pat. You had me going at the beginning when I thought you were relating an old story--but instead it turned out to be the story of you and your husband. That's a very moving Valentine's Day story, Pat.

Happy St. Valentine's Day to you both.

picperfic said...

woh...Pat, I just want to hug you....so beautiful, I have only just found love like that...(((Pat)))

RUTH said...

I know how difficult this post must have been for you. Sending you special{{hugs}} and thanks for letting us share your treasured memories.
Rx
@->

Pat said...

Thanks so much talj, AB for your comments. I appreciate the hugs today.

Utenzi, thanks for visiting my blog. Yes, that was the story of how my late husband proposed to me and how we enjoyed 40 wonderful years of marriage.

Marianne, I'm so happy you've now found this love. It's certainly wonderful. We were joined at the hip as they say.

Talk to you soon,

Pat

Pat said...

Thanks so much Ruth.

Lovely of you to stop by.

photowannabe said...

Your post is such a moving tribute to Love and your love specifically.
Thank you for visiting my blog and your nice comments.
Please come again anytime.

Sheila said...

This is a sweet story, and I'm glad you were able to share so many wonderful years together.
Thank you for sharing your meories with us..
Hugs
XX
Our snow stopped mid afternoon,and the sun came out..all be it briefly.
It is very cold however..

Unknown said...

Pat, thank you so much for your prayers for my family. They are so much appreciated and they were answered!

Such a beautiful love story. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Happy Valentines :)

CG said...

What a beautiful story; it's an inspiration to us all!!!
xxx

Geri-Jean said...

Hey Pat
11/11 is the number above this little box.LOL. Mine and Marc's very special number. It always blesses me Pat to hear of you and your husband. It is SO wonderfull to know you were so in love, bittersweet. I understand this beautiful love, because I have found it too! Only in Jesus was it possible for me. And worth the wait for God's Best! You are precious Pat and I appreciate and am honored to hear your Beautiful love story!! God bless you TONS today !! Geri-Jean

Pat said...

Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments.

These "special days" are so difficult as many of you will also realize if you've gone through this.

Unknown said...

Wonderful, sweet, tender love story. I hope I, too, one day can experience that type of love, but in the meantime, Jesus is my true love.

Pat said...

Hey Nancy!

Thanks for visiting. I was sorry to hear that you are so ill and my thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Keep in touch my friend.

Pat

Rebecca said...

Pat, what a BEAUTIFUL story!! I can't imagine the loss that you feel, but what a BLESSING to have such a wonderful, godly husband. It was the accent that did you in, wasn't it ;) haha I spent 8 months in the Republic of Ireland in 2005 - it was a wonderful experience.

I will be praying for you today. Your Father knows what your heart feels and He is with you. His mercies are new every morning...

Much love from a sister in the States. :)