The Banner

Everywhere around us, we see banners. Banners proclaiming this political agenda, banners promoting a product, silly banners, misspelled banners, earnest banners. So many things vying for attention. It can be so overwhelming, especially those digital banners that flash and annoy you with crazy graphics while you are driving. Today an old song we used to sing at church camp came into my head "I am my beloved's and he is mine, his banner over me is love" In the Song of Solomon, in the Old Testament,is  a beautiful love story of a man wooing a woman gently. Many scholars believe it is an allegory or a metaphor in the religious sense, but I am not getting into that. Those who know the story and the symbolism behind it don't need an explanation. Those who don't would just scratch their heads and say "huh?". What I want to focus on is that Banner. The Banner of Love. The actual verse reads : "He brought me to the banquet table, his banner over me is love." I picture a lovely dinner where the King places his beloved at the head of the table and a big banner proclaiming his love for her is flying overhead to let everyone know how he loves her, how he cherishes her, and how proud he is of her. In my life, I have never known such love and devotion as from my beloved DH. He is not a big expressive guy to others, but I know that somewhere flying above my head is a big banner proclaiming how much he loves me, and it is returned tenfold. To be his wife, his beloved, has been an honor and a privilege. To care for him, to help heal his hurts, is an honor I don't take for granted. He is my dearest friend, the joy of my life.


Saw a movie set in Ireland where the bride toasts the husband. I loved it and want to repeat it here for my DH on our anniversary:

 May you never steal, lie, or cheat, but if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows, and if you must lie, lie with me all the nights of my life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because I couldn't live a day without you.

An anniversary is so personal, yet so public! We had a small wedding with friends and family and the day was perfect. Happily it was a day as beautiful as this one. I look back on that day 18 years ago and think of those who shared it with us (or maybe you've been to one of the every "5th year weddings" we have had) and I think of whom we have lost and all we have shared. I miss our dear ones who have left us and we treasure each of you who have been responsible (still!)for holding us together, especially now.  Happy anniversary, my love.
The banner over us is LOVE.