Show Your Love by R. T. Cross

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1911

Show Your Love

By R. T. Cross

WHEN a man chooses from all the women in the world one woman to be his companion for life, he solemnly promises before God and man to love her with an affectionate love. And that love should be as real and genuine after they have been married twenty-five or fifty years as it is on the morning of the wedding day. It need not be so demonstrative. We hardly expect the same outward expressions of love in an aged couple as in a newly married couple. But the love should exist just the same—less demonstrative because age is less demonstrative than youth, but real and genuine, and manifesting itself in a thoughtful courtesy, a true politeness, and a loving gentleness toward her who has walked by his side for many years, and with him borne the burdens of life.

You may give your wife costly Christmas or birthday or wedding anniversary presents; you may furnish her with fine dresses, a beautiful home, costly carriages, and send or take her to fashionable watering-places, but her heart hungers for something more, even the free, hearty, continued, daily affection of your heart. Nothing else can take its place. The other things are valuable only as they are tokens of such affection.

And do not always assume that she knows of your love. God knows that we love him,—if thus we do,—but he wants us to tell him of it every day. You know that your child loves you, but you never tire of having that child put its little arm around your neck and say: “Papa, I love you ever so much.” It will give your wife immeasurable pleasure if you occasionally tell her, with a kiss, that she is dearer to you than ever.

—R. T. Cross.