How Do I Love You?

The famous Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem, How Do I Love Thee, counts the ways: ” … to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, … to the level of every day’s most quiet need, … by sun and candlelight…  freely, as men strive for Right; … purely, as they turn from Praise… with passion … and my childhood’s faith… [and with] the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, if God choose, … better after death.” Ah, such poetry!! How do I begin to approximate such love? To the depth, breadth and height my soul can reach – I don’t judge my silly son-in-law as foolish when he buys for my teen-aged grandson something I am sure he’s not old enough to take care of. To the level of my most quiet need – I love my husband when he stays out fishing with his buddies long past the hour when dinner was still moist and edible. By sun and candlelight – I relight the candle when he walks in after dark and I sit down to enjoy a glass of wine with him, asking sweetly, “So, my dear one, how was your day?”  Freely, as men (and women) strive for Right –  I look beyond the superficial, get my ego out of the way, and avoid passing judgement on motives I cannot possibly read correctly without a crystal ball. Purely, turning from praise – I buy the chicken, debone it,  wash and season it, allow it to rest in its marinade until just the right time, and call you in to light the barbecue and place it on the coals. Then, I smile as you soak up the praise for how delicious it is!  With passion – I touch you tenderly in all the right places – on your skin and in your heart. And with my childhood’s faith – I see beyond the exterior to your very soul, where the depth and breadth and height of you resides – in your relationship with our dog. The breath, smiles, tears of all  my life are not hidden from you – I love you with honest vulnerability and genuine friendship. And, if God choose, better after death – I pray for your eternity and mine to be bound in love as only God can count the ways. I love you eternally!