Smiling Eyes and a Tucked In Hand
At one tourist spot on our recent trip, Ray and I saw an adorable statue of a chubby and short older couple. The years had molded their love to the point that they could have almost passed as fraternal twins. These bronze lovebirds sat together on a bench — a picture of joy, confidence, and love.
He wore a collared shirt, a round-necked pullover sweater, slacks, and sensible leather shoes. What hair he had left encircled the sides and back of his head. She wore a dress that I’m sure he liked. Below her crossed ankles, she wore tiny high heels. Her hair was combed straight back, showing off her beautiful smooth skin.
With one hand resting on each knee and his face turned toward hers, his eyes smiled into her eyes. From the looks of the smile wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, he had been doing that for a long time. She had squeezed her right hand in between the crook of his arm and his little round belly. Her left hand rested on what lap she had left between her own little round belly and the hem of her knee-length dress — pleasingly plump is the old phrase that comes to mind. She also smiled and looked into his eyes from her upturned face.
April-May cruises to New England and Canada are populated mainly with the fifty to ninety crowd. One day Ray and I were on one of the ship’s elevators with three other couples. One lady stood behind her husband rubbing his back lovingly. Both looked happy with one another and much in love. Their affection was a sweet shining light to the rest of us in the elevator.
I realized that couples who are over fifty and on a cruise together probably comprise a segment of the population who — like the bronze couple sitting on the bronze bench — really do like to be together. Otherwise, why would they choose to come? They are not there to provide fun or educational activities for their children. Like Ray and I, they enjoy flying away together from their empty nest.
I encourage you to make some time for smiling eyes and hands tucked into the crook of your husband’s arm. It’s a joy to you both, to your children, to your Father in heaven, and to the other people on your elevator.
. . . encourage the young women
to love their husbands . . .
Titus 2:4
. . . rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Proverbs 5:18