old love

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I am blessed to be a penpal to an 85 year old Christian woman, Sally.  She lost her husband a few years ago and is now living alone in their old farmhouse.  She has neighbors and relatives who love her and check in on her often. 

As a little girl going to church, my family sat in the pew in front of Roger and Sally.  So, she watched me grow up, meet Rich, and get married. Her letters have been a tool in God’s hands to get me to think about life and what matters most. 

Todaywould have been Roger and Sally’s 61st anniversary and I thought it would be nice to share some quotes from her letters. 

“If I could live my life over I would work harder when I was young instead of being so world crazy–and would have been nicer to Roger all the years we were married.  We had a great life but now he is gone, I wish I had done so much more, he was so good.”

“My parents were very thoughtful of each other.  She always was cooking something that he especially liked.  He always was sure her wood box was full and had plenty of water, so she wouldn’t have to carry a lot.”

“Back then, that was the way you showed you cared.  There was very little touching in front of the kids (you just didn’t do those things) but they made 8 kids so there must of been a lot of lovin’ in there somewhere.”

“We didn’t have anything but kids, but there was always a lot of caring.”

“We always said, ‘Life begins when the kids are gone and the day dies’ and it did!!”

“We just enjoyed being together, if we were working, taking long walks in the woods, or relaxing on the back lawn in our easy chairs (eating ice cream).”

“Roger used to stir things for me, at the last, when my hands and arms would ache.  Whatever I made, I made a little something for him to sample.”

“We were married on Valentine’s Day 1946, so we were always putting heart notes in places, lunch pails, pillows, on steering wheels, in boots or shoes–just fun things.  I miss these things so much now.”

 

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose.
That’s newly sprung in June:
Oh my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’the seas gang dry.

Till a’the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear
While the sands o’life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve!
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.
Robert Burns

 

Why do I love you-for the gifts you bring
The pretty things that anyone could buy?
Ah, you are more to me than breath could sing,
Than tongue could tell, however hard I try.
I love you for the thrill of your hand on mine
Can give, like fire running through dry grass;
I love you for the pregnant silence, dear,
That falls upon our souls like God’s own place,
And for our trust at death alone to cease,
Such little things to love you for, you say?
You know what’s locked within
my heart each day!
Elizabeth Shaw Montgomery

I dearly hope that this Valentine’s day finds you in love with the people in your life and especially our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us”  Ephesians 5:1

 

“heart notes”

 

0 thoughts on “old love”

  4. Great post Shanda, I miss those days. Grandma Sally loved us all very much! What a beautiful Lady! Happy Valentines Day! I’m at work, M is at home (no college..24″ of snow today!!). We leave eachother notes almost every day. I find them in my lunch, and on my work out stuff. Love is a grand feeling!!!!

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  5. “If I could live my life over I would work harder when I was young instead of being so world crazy–and would have been nicer to Roger all the years we were married.  We had a great life but now he is gone, I wish I had done so much more, he was so good.”
    this quote is something I need to remember…what a blessing to have a friend like that in your life. So much wisdom to learn from!

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  8. Thank you for sharing those sweet memories from your wise penpal. I cannot imagine life without my husband; I know I should never take for granted all the ‘little things.’
    Happy Valentine’s Day, dear friend! You are a blessing to me!
    Love, Heather

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  10. What a beautiful Valentine post and what priceless treasures are Sally’s words to you. They touched my heart and made a deep impression there. Thank you so much for sharing them.
    Happy Birthday to you…..belated, of course! The pictures are gorgeous. I especially like the one of you holding and kissing your baby. So beautiful and tender.
    I really enjoyed all of the pictures. I just caught up looking at the last few posts.
    Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.
    Blessings,
    Jana

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  15. This was incredibly touching, and it brought tears to my eyes.  I only pray God will bless my marriage in such a way, that we can experience the same sort of love.  Thank you for sharing it, Shan.  Love you.

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  20. What a gift to have this relationship with your ‘penpal’ and that it’s still going.  Beautiful quotes.  I love listening to seniors.  They have so much to offer. 
    Thanks for the ‘love’ story.  Everyone loves a  good love story!

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  22. I’m so glad you decided to post her comments!! I love the quote about “there must of been some lovin’ in there somewhere!” That was too cute!!!! *grin*
    This is the best Valentine post I’ve read!!! 🙂
    Hugs and Hearts- Cass

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  25. How sweet! I could relate to some of what she wrote. My hubby always made sure the wood box was full when we had to rely on wood heat for our log home and I always tried to cook what he liked. We are still together after 30 years and still in love. God is good! Happy Valentine’s Day! Lynn

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  26. What a sweet Valentine’s Day post!  It can cause the rest of us to be grateful for the things our spouse does for us! 🙂
    Happy late Valentine’s Day, and also Happy Birthday!  I esp enjoyed your photo of you surrounded by your children~!

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  27. blessings sneak in from day to day usually we don’t realize how blessed we are until the blessings that we recieve are gone. That is the sad fact. God bless those who love, those who love and lose but most of all, God blessed us with Christ so that we have gained it all through him.

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  29. How beautiful!  I just thought I would stop by and say hello – I found you in the blogring – and I’m glad I stopped by.  Those quotes from your friend made me cry – and even  more thankful for my loving husband.  Please stop by my site and say hello – I like to meet new people!  So, nice to “meet” you!  – April

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  33. Thank you for your sharing.. I love this!!! Really touching! I just got married three months and still struggling about relationship. I copied your pic to share with my friends, oh dear, that sentense was so touching! Thank you for the reminder!!

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  34. “We were married on Valentine’s Day 1946, so we were always putting heart notes in places, lunch pails, pillows, on steering wheels, in boots or shoes–just fun things.  I miss these things so much now.”
    I know how much she has meant to you, thanks for taking the time to share some of her with us!  This one I copied above was my fav.
    She is a treasure Shan’

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