Anyone who has known me for over 5 minutes must know that I am a complete hopeless romantic. I have always been. Whether it was the stories of my grandparents overcoming age and circumstance or religion and the age of war or if it was instilled upon me at birth (seeing how I am true Valentine) I am always fascinated by stories of true love. Even the same stories told over and over again never grow old. The spark of love makes me smile every time.
This Valentine’s Day is very different from the rest because I am in......love. Suddenly the stories of love I have heard now resound even more beautifully because I am in the midst of my very own fascinating love story. To some this is the time where you stop reading my blog because you are in the “he man woman haters club” or something to that effect. However I urge you to keep reading. Not because it is my blog but to read of a story that is truly one for the books.
When Thomas and I first started “talking”, I broke every rule I ever made about relationships. I was supposed to be kind, gentle, thoughtful, romantic and the list goes on. HA! I was stand- offish and told him exactly what I thought about everything (especially what I thought he should and should not do). I was trying to run him off. Lucky me, he took my curtness as a hard to get kind of girl and he was not going to stop until I had fell for him. This cycle went on for months! Even after a date which consisted of lovely dinner, a nice long walk on the beach in Florida and him getting down on one knee asking me to be his girlfriend I kept saying no. Something was holding me back.
He claims he asked me to be his girlfriend 6 times (I can only remember 3) before I finally said yes on my favorite summer holidays July 4th. It was romantic as it could get and I was ready to start the relationship I kept putting off.
Literally the next week I got sick. Not the flu kind of sick but a sickness that some doctors have yet to explain. Sparing you most of the details Thomas went from having a somewhat normal girlfriend to one who could barely talk from stuttering, think straight, socialize...an emotional wreck. At first I thought well...not wonder I kept saying no. It was never meant to be. However Thomas did not shun me or take the easy way out. He embraced me with open arms, learning my every fault and dealt with it.
Some days were better than others yet Thomas was faithful never leaving me or doubting our relationship. His confidence and courage gave me confidence and courage. In November I took a turn for the worse and began having more severe problems. I could not work and rarely felt like speaking to anyone. I was the girl who was supposed to have her act together...yet I could barely complete a sentence without convulsing or losing my train of thought. Thomas still stood by me when many had walked away.
Most anyone who has some Bible knowledge knows of “doubting Thomas” well I have found a Thomas who is a “faithful Thomas”. Everyday Thomas has come to see me bringing sunshine with him. I know there have been hard days for him but he never let it show. He laughs with me in the good times, cries with me in the bad times, always knowing what I need when I need it. He does not get discouraged when I do not feel good enough to get out. He makes being at home one of the best dates!
Now I know that some of you are laughing at my maybe naive love story but I can assure you that a love like this is not an everyday thing. In my darkest moments when my hair is a mess and I am wearing my favorite but truly ugly orange sweat pant skirt Thomas will look me in the eye telling I am beautiful and truly mean it. Love does not look at the outside but looks at the heart. Thomas looks not only at what I am right not but what I am going to be and what we are going to be together.
Most people would have walked away from a relationship that gives and rarely receives. But if one is looking only to receive they will only find someone who has their same selfish qualities. During this first real relationship I have learned a great deal and know that waiting is not all that bad because one day with the right one is a whole lot better than years with the wrong one. Love is more than an emotion or feeling. In my opinion it is actions. Some actions that may even seem to go unnoticed are the actions that mean the most.
The greatest love stories of all times are not the easy relationships but are rather the relationships that had to overcome hardships and tragedies. True love surpasses any road blocks and knows that some detours make for the most meaningful memories ever made.
I love you Thomas.
