How is your love life? ~ A Remembrance Day Story for your heart

 

 

“How’s your love life?”

 

We used to say.

 

We would stop and gossip

 

No time to pray.

 

There were romances

 

that sprung

 

from dances.

 

What was this a craze?

 

No simply school “daze”

 

To which we bid farewell.

 

“How’s the beau?”

 

Folks would ask.

 

“Is he the one?

 

Is it going to last?

 

What’s that you say?

 

He’s off to war?

 

We have lost too many

 

How many more?”

 

The days passed slowly.

 

There was no news.

 

We worked in the factories. 

 

Sat in the pews.

 

Would they come home safely?

 

Would we wed?

 

During the agonizing waiting

 

Hearts were full of dread.

 

They came home.

 

Wounded, altered and silent.

 

“How’s your love life?

 

Folks would ask.

 

“How’s the healing?”

 

“That is quite a task.”

 

The soldiers were enrolled in college

 

Work programs and rehab.

 

Who could replace

 

The dreams that we all had?

 

So the family gathered

 

The younger folks were finally wed.

 

Where would he find the words to tell

 

her of the years

 

in the concentration camp

 

how it blew him right apart.

 

So he said nothing

 

Bottled it up inside.

 

Some of the boys went for counseling.

 

But not him, he had his pride.

 

So the wee ones came.

 

Twins were first

 

Then the girl.

 

Then a boy.

 

There was no time to ask

 

“How’s your love life?”

 

One could have asked

 

“How are you doing

 

Hiding behind the mask?”

 

The prisons of the mortgage

 

The nightmares of the past 

 

The grueling re-adjustment.

 

Were they up to the task?

 

Then the sun broke through

 

The clouds

 

The young ones were doing fine.

 

Love hung on their being like clothes on the line.

 

The children cuddled and created for them

 

their very own  sacred sanctuary…

 

A little heaven here on earth.

 

The home was filled with loving.

 

No need was there to ask

 

“How’s your love life?”

 

The laughter of the children and 

 

The Sunlight of the Spirit  filled the home.

 

There was grace at meals.

 

Prayers in the morning.

 

Grandfather read from the good book.

 

The children grew in grace and statue.

 

They were in training for the rapture.

 

In photographs they captured

 

More expression

 

More love and beauty

 

More giggles and mirth.

 

They indeed made heaven here on earth.

 

The soldier’s heart began to melt.

 

He found new meaning when one day he knelt.

 

Then suddenly there was giggling

 

coming from the porch.

 

He flicked on the dooryard light

 

Much to his surprise

 

One of the twins was being courted

 

right before his eyes.

 

So the next morning

 

Before grandfather could raise his voice.

 

The soldier held his daughter

 

“I approve of your choice.

 

When are you setting the date?”

 

What is that you are saying?

 

He is off to fight the war?

 

We have lost too many

 

How many more?”

 

So behind the joy

 

The young twin waited, 

 

Waited, 

 

Waited, 

 

Then she waited some more.

 

Folks were quite supportive

 

Of the young miss

 

Never quite wanting to admit

 

That it could have been a good-bye  kiss.

 

So in your hurry throughout your day

 

Take a moment with the Master

 

Learn to hear His Voice.

 

So no matter what the answer is

 

When you hear someone say

 

“How’s your love life?”

 

Be grateful today

 

For the soldier who

 

Helped to free our land.

 

For the loving generations

 

Who obeyed the command

 

To love, to serve, to honour

 

To protect and rejoice

 

In our freedoms

 

So the love life

 

can continue.

 

That we are free to pray.

 

So there is now a deeper meaning

 

when someone does ask

 

“How’s your love life?

 

Are you up for the task?

 

Can you make the commitment?

 

Give love a chance

 

Respect one another

 

Make freedom and gratitude

 

Part of your dance.

 

So, how is your love life?”

 

What is that you are saying?

 

He is off to fight the war?

 

We have lost too many

 

How many more?”

 

 

poppy dusk (Photo credit: lovingyourwork.com)

 

 

Related articles

 

 

• First Nations vets honoured at Rembrance Day ceremony: photos (vancouverobserver.com)
• Canada Remembers (thistimethisspace.com)
• 11th Hour 11th Day 11 Month Monday Nov 11th Happy Armistice/Rembrance Day!!! (lunaticoutpost.com)
• The importance of Remembrance Day (blogs.abc.net.au)
• Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Rembrance Day (bokertov.typepad.com)
• The city marks Remembrance Day with parade and service (edinburgh.stv.tv)
• Remember, remember … (revteapot.wordpress.com)
• Remembrance (julietmchugh.wordpress.com)
• Remembrance Day: Scotland pays tribute to servicemen and women killed in conflict (dailyrecord.co.uk)