I beg of you, my loyal readers, your indulgence of my peek back into the past for this personal Special Valentine’s edition of “You and God.” I have before me a yellow-stained, faded copy of a “love” poem that I wrote to my fiancée in 1964, the year we became engaged to be married. She was 19 and I was 22; she was in her sophomore year of college and I was in my senior year. Our plan was to be united in marriage in August of 1965. So, I am looking back for more than 60 years. I hope many who read this blog will be able to remember those youthful yearnings you too have harbored in your heart. (Note, the mountain referred to in the 3rd stanza is one of the Blue Ridge mountains close to where Ellen grew up; Georgia Creel, mentioned in the next to last line of the poem, was the name of the Bob Jones University dormitory that was home to Ellen in the fall of 1964):
I PROMISE
E’er since we met this time a year ago,
We’ve come the good and bad of each to know;
We met, we liked, we loved and that love grew,
A love that shall forevermore be true.
As we behold the threshold of our life,
We see a world of restlessness and strife.
Together we do pledge our lives to give,
The truth that can forever make men live;
My Dear, I’m glad that on that day in June,
When on high mountain underneath bright moon;
You promised me—and sealed it with a kiss—
To give to me your love—my greatest bliss.
My wife you’ll be, and I your husband, too;
And we shall live and thrive on love that’s true;
And if a trial should come our way each day,
With joined hands and hearts to God we’ll pray.
Darling:
To love you always is my highest goal;
To love you, Dear, with body, mind and soul.
Until I die, I’ll live to love you more,
Until I die, your being I’ll adore.
Until I die, I’ll kiss away your tears;
Until I die, I’ll chase away your fears.
Until I die, I’ll make you laugh and smile,
For ‘till I die, I’ll love you all the while.
As long as I have breath to love you, Hon;
I’ll love you as my wife, for we’ll be one.
No parting then at Georgia Creel’s front door—
Just love, and love, and love forevermore!
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can
the floods drown it….” (Song of Solomon 8:7a)
(Editor’s Note: When I penned those words as a
young man, life with Ellen was a dream; now, as
an old man, I can say truthfully that life with Ellen
has been a dream come true! I know Ellen joins me
in wishing you all the fullest realization of your
fondest dreams. Happy Valentine’s Day!)
YOU and GOD 