Your Tenacious Love
We were young and immature
I was inexperienced in love and dating
and you were my first boyfriend
Many decades ago:
You brought me flowers
You took me to 94th Aero Squadron,
the tide pools, your childhood home,
I met your parents, you fixed my VW,
we hiked and rode bikes and went to the beach,
we came to this desert to visit my grandma,
this same desert where we now live and grandparent
You thought you were so in love, but I was hesitant
We eventually broke up and dated others,
but our hearts were linked,
And you persisted.
You worked seven years to capture my heart–your Rachel you say.
At least I didn’t have to work for fourteen years, you also say,
as well as:
I can’t believe you are whatever years old.
I can’t believe I’m holding Denise Reed in the desert.
I can’t believe how blessed I am.
Thank you for holding me as I fall asleep
Thank you for caring for yourself so I can hold onto you longer
Thank you for bringing me healthy snacks when I don’t expect them
Thank you for praying with and for me
Thank you for holding my hand when we pray
Thank you for asking me interesting questions
Thank you for wanting to be with me
Thank you for waiting for me all those years ago to get ready to say yes
Thank you for your faithfulness these many years
Thank you for taking risks and being bold
Thank you for sharing your confidence with me
Thank you for being a role model in friendliness and service
Thank you for being vulnerable and inviting me to be too
Thank you for your resolute responsibility and love for our little family
Thank you for understanding when I don’t speak of my love as easily as you
Thank you for your tenacious love
During each day in the months of August and September, I am responding to a different word from Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Today’s word is Tenacity. A small group of people wanting to make the world a better place are reading and responding together. Join us! Visit Common Threads: Patchwork Prose and Verse by Kim Haynes Johnson for more information. Here is the word list I’ll be following for August and September.
Denise, your poem brings tears of sweetness and joy to my eyes as I see not only the certain husband and wife love, but also the full circle love of grandparenting where your grandparents grandparented. You are one blessed wife to have the absolute adoration of your husband as you do. Through our writing friendship over the years, I understand why he waited. Your heart is so pure, and you want only the best for others, always. You put God and others first, and you are the love of his life. What a beautiful testament to this lifelong love that you have had! I hope you frame this for him.