Three Decades and a Year

“She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

 

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!”
     — Lord Byron

Thirty one years ago on this date, the woman whom God set aside for me before laying the foundations of the universe became my wife, thereby making me a complete, if yet unfinished man.

Subjecting our marriage to my usual accountant’s analysis is not a wise thing, for it brings into too sharp focus the illogic mystery that is love. She is so many things that I am not: patient, gentle, winsomely naive, slow to anger, merciful. Sometimes I think that I am her cross to bear, and the fact that she loves me anyway is a testament to the grace of God.

She is the only woman I’ve ever known, and I can’t imagine life without her. I thank God for her every day, and pray that, for her sake, He’ll make me a better man.

“An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.”
     — Psalm 31:10-11

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9 comments

  1. The love of my life and I agree that you’ve given a beautiful and fitting tribute! I had to laugh when my husband (he and the love of my life are one and the same) teased me, “Now you can write a comment about me! You married SHREK!!” I thought that was funny until I realized he was inadvertantly calling me Fiona! So I’m not going to post this after all.

  5. Thank you one and all.
    And, Jasmine, I think you could do a lot worse than be married to Shrek, considering that he’s one of the most admired characters in modern recollection!

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