a little romance

It's Valentine's Day: for some a day of high hopes, of flowers and chocolates and dinner out.

All that is fine, but after many years of marriage and living, I've come to appreciate the day-to-day expressions of love and affection that have come my way. I don't think I'm the easiest person to live with. Sometimes I'm moody, cranky and just want to be left alone. But my husband looks past all that and loves me. Let me count the ways:

- loading - and emptying - the dishwasher.
- he doesn't hog the remote.
- makes grocery store runs.
- waits until I'm up to make the coffee. He knows I hate stale coffee.
- suggests we go out to eat just because, not because it's Valentine's Day.
- remembers that Tuesday is trash day and takes care of it.
- squeegies the shower.
- vacuums dog hair off the stairs.
- lets the dog out and in, over and over again. Wipes her feet, too.
- makes a fire in the fireplace even though it's a pain.
- lets me be me.

No, he isn't much into flowers and jewelry, but that's ok. It means more to me that he looks for little ways to show love throughout the year. A lot of women should be so fortunate.

Of course, Paul probably said it best to the Corinthians, the poor souls who needed to get it right. He said of love:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

1 Cor. 13:4-7 The Message

Way to go, Paul.