“May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth….may you ever be captivated by her love.”
Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Mijas, Spain. The sun’s rays were hot on my skin, a stark contrast to the crisp air. It was the perfect day for a walk. I wandered through the village for a while, half-exploring, half-escaping. The white-washed stucco walls were pure and bright, the flowers were deep shades of red, yellow, and purple. There was a faint drone of busyness which was more calming than anything. Somehow I ended up over at the lookout, a mountain top view of Fuengirola and the Mediterranean Sea. Not often having seen a mountain top view of the Mediterranean, I stayed for a while.
An older couple slowly made their way up the hill and sat on the park bench across from mine. He checked his watch and sat down on the end of the bench. She sat as far away from him as possible, the picnic basket acting as a buffer. For an hour they sat and ate. He stared straight ahead, slowly chewing a sandwich. She abruptly applied some sun screen, her head swiveling in every direction except for his. He checked his watch again and mumbled something to her. She began to eat, continuing to give her attention to anything but her husband. Proverbs 5 came flooding back into my mind. This was the most loveless picnic I have ever seen a man and wife share.
“May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth….may you ever be captivated by her love.”
My grandparents have been married for over 50 years. It’s only been recently that I’ve really begun to grasp exactly what that means. Well, as much as I can grasp as a 26 year old who has yet to marry I suppose. Just like any couple who has been together that long, they’ve had plenty of ups and more than their fair share of downs. But for as long as I live, I will remember this about my grandparents…
They always dance together.
Whenever we have a big family event, my grandfather dances with my grandmother. Even this past summer at my brother’s wedding, my grandfather wobbled out on the dance floor, threw aside his cane, and danced with my grandmother. He insisted on it. I’ll never forget that about them.
