The following is a letter written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning on the eve of her wedding to Robert Browning:
January 10, 1846
Do you know, when you have told me to think of you, I have been feeling ashamed of thinking of you so much, of thinking of only you--which is too much, perhaps. Shall I tell you? It seems to me, to myself, that no man was ever before to any woman what you are to me--the fullness must be in proportion, you know, to the vacancy...and only I know what was behind--the long wilderness without the blossoming rose...and the capacity for happiness, like a black gaping hole, before this silver flooding. Is it wonderful that I should stand as in a dream, and disbelieve--not you--but my own fate? Was ever any one taken suddenly from a lampless dungeon and placed upon the pinnacle of a mountain, without the head turning round and the heart turning faint, as mine do? And you love me more, you say?--Shall I thank you or God? Both,--indeed--and there is no possible return from me to either of you! I thank you as the unworthy may..and as we all thank God. How shall I ever prove what my heart is to you? How will you ever see it as I feel it? I ask myself in vain.
Have so much faith in me, my only beloved, as to use me simply for your own advantage and happiness, and to your own ends without a thought of any others--that is all I could ask you without any disquiet as to the granting of it--May God bless you!--
Your
B.A.
The following is a letter written by Robert Browing to his new wife Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
You will only expect a few words-what will those be? When the heart is full it may run over, but the real fullness stays within.
You asked me yesterday "if I should repent?" Yes-my own Ba,-I could wish all the past were to do all over again, that in it somewhat more,-never so little more, confirm in the outward homage, to the inward feeling, What I have professed,(for I have performed nothing)seems to fall short of what my first love required even-and when I think of this moment's love...I could repet I say.
Words can never tell you, however,-form them, transform them anyway, how perfectly dear you are to me-perfectly dear to my heart and soul.
I look back, and in every moment, every letter, every silence-you have been entirely perfect to me-I would not change one word, one lookk.
My hope and aim are to preserve this love, not to fall from it-for which I trust to God who procured it for me, and doubtless can preserve it.
Enough now, my dearest, dearest, own Ba! You have given me the highest, completest proof of love that ever one human being gave another. I am all gratitude-and all pride(under the proper feeling which ascribes pride to the right source) all pride that my life has been so crowned by you.
God bless you prays your very own R.
I received the following through email & it touched my heart:
"MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL "
You say you will never forget where you were when you
heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with
a man who called his wife to say "Good-Bye".
I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it is OK...I am ready to go".
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help.
"I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said.
"Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now".
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there,
comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, and London.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name - though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; "Come to Me... this way...
take my hand".
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go".
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God
