Promise

On Love

Thomas a Kempis (1379-1471)

Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good.
Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth.
It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet
and acceptable.

Nothing is sweeter than love,
Nothing stronger,
Nothing higher,
Nothing wider,
Nothing more pleasant,
Nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.

Love flies, runs and leaps for joy.
It is free and unrestrained.
Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds.
Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil,
attempts things beyond its strength.

Love sees nothing as impossible,
for it feels able to achieve all things.
It is strange and effective,
while those who lack love faint and fail.

Love is not fickle and sentimental,
nor is it intent on vanities.
Like a living flame and a burning torch,
it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle.

March 15, 2008 proved to be so much more than most would expect. As a matter of fact, it exceeded all of my expectations. It marks the day that Eileen and Scott made "official" the lifelong promise they made to each other long ago. There will be a wedding next year and we could not be happier for the two of them than we are this day. What started out as an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration transformed into an opportunity to celebrate love in its truest and most honest form. With both the Moores and McNamaras present, we toasted Eileen and Scott and wished upon them every good thing in the coming year and beyond. Scott has been with our family through some of our most tested and trying times and has handled himself as you would expect anyone in his situation to do - like a brother, a son and a soulmate. We have no doubt in our minds that we have grown stronger with him by Eileen's side and cannot wait to publicly validate what we have already known for so long - that he belongs in our family circle and makes it more complete. Eileen is a treasure in my life - at one time you might say an undiscovered treasure during my very obnoxious "older sister" years - and I care for her and love her as anyone would a treasure and would stop at nothing to be sure every good thing comes her way. So, to say that I am overjoyed for both her and Scott doesn't seem adequate but it will have to do. I am looking forward to watching them solidify and make sacred what they have worked so hard at creating for each other and feel blessed to be a part of it. Many blessings and best wishes to you both.