True Romance

Mr. and Mrs. Percy Arrowsmith

This English couple just celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on June 1. 80 years!! Now that's a great love story. You can have the torrid affairs of TV and movies and the 1-5 year "marriages" of Hollywood, I don't want them. I'll take the story of a man and woman who said "til death do us part" and meant it...for 80 years.

Truly this couple meant it because today, two weeks after their 80-year anniversary, Mr. Arrowsmith died at home with his beloved wife by his side. He was 105 and she is 100.

You can read about it here, along with some rather flat and uninspiring words from the Anglican Bishop of Hereford.

Now, of course, I didn't know them, and have no idea of how their 80 years together panned out. But I do know that "romance" doesn't keep two people together for 80 years, love does. Love that stands by vows and committments made. Love that dies to self so that the other can grow. Love that says "til death do us part," and then sticks around until death.

May this couple be an inspiration to all married persons in their vocation of being one in the Lord. Please pray for the repose of Mr. Arrowsmith's soul and for his grieving wife and family.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. And may light perpetual shine them. Amen.