Forever is a long, long time.

note - I snagged this picture at flickr. Please follow the links to see more from this photographer. The story is not about the pictured couple.

Friday Night - small town Danielsville, Georgia - truely a one red light town. This is on my way home from work and I stopped for Chinese at the new shopping center (the one with 6 retail spaces and is the most happening place in the city limits.)

I was meeting Molly and Sam for dinner. College student and teen boyfriend - always ready for food. I watched the old couple pull up. He drove slowly, no, deliberately, looking for a space closer to the door. The two of them had to be in their late 80's. They were dressed to go out to dinner. A special trip, something we take for granted.

He parked and got out. Looking at him, I am sure he was quite the good looking catch in his younger days. His still beautiful wife moved oh so very slowly. It became obvious that time had not been as gentle with her, she was frail and unsteady. He walked to her side of the car, got her door, reached in and gathered her purse and sweater, then carrying those items he took her gently by the arm and escorted her in. Again, plodding across that lot oh so slowly.

It made me happy to watch them.

Molly and Sam joined me and we were fortunate enough to be seated next to them. He draped her sweater on her chair and set her purse down next to her, then helped her to a seat in the chair. His patience was obvious. I sensed no annoyance at the time and effort this all took. No annoyance from either of them.

It made me happy to watch them.

We fixed our plates at the buffet. He fixed hers. I never heard him ask what she wanted, as if all those years of living together had simply given him the information he needed. He took her plate to her, then went back and prepared his own. I could see his face from my postion, but could only see her back. As he sat down, he reached across the table brushed her hand and said "you look pretty" then handed her a fork and made sure her drink was where she could reach it.

It made me happy to watch them and I told Molly and Sam that it did.

He encouraged her to eat just another bite or two. Ever watchful without being pushy. He cleaned up the few things that fell from her plate. Simply taking care of his bride.

It made me happy to watch them.

Molly, Sam and I lingered after we ate. We laughed and talked. I watched this old couple still very much loving toward one another. When they finished their dinner, he went and paid the check, came back to the table, helped her to her feet, gathered up her purse and sweater, then oh so very slowly walked her to the car. The very last thing I heard him say was "that was a very nice dinner don't you think."

I never heard her say one word. I have no idea what caused her frail manner. I wondered to myself if she was even able to talk to him. I watched the decisions to love and care for his partner be as easy as breathing for him. I wondered so much about this old couple.

It made me happy to watch them.

I lifted a prayer for them and a thanks to God for allowing me to get a glimpse of long term love. Forever is a very long time.

I look at my girls and know that they are in the time of their life where they are working towards making a lifetime partnership decision. I hope Molly and Sam were watching carefully the old couple at the Chinese place. Love is not about texting one another all hours of the day and night. Love is not about those three words that are often tossed about far to casually. Love is not about calling to see what she is wearing so that your tie can match. Love is forged and fire tested in each little bitty decision to sacrifice for the good of the partnership.

I watched the old couple carefully - he demonstrated every descriptive word from the scripture.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will come to pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am full known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
NIV... I CORINTHIANS 13: 4-13

It made me happy to watch them

Forever is a long, long time.
Originally uploaded by DiabloDivine