Romantic readings

"A Beautiful Journey" by Donna Fargo
"A Good Marriage" by Pearl S. Buck
"A History of Love"  by Diane Ackerman
"A Marriage" by Mark Twain
"A Reminder for the One I Love" by Rachyl Taylor
"A Wonderful Gift" by Douglas Pagels
"Advise for a Marriage" by Carol Howard
"Any Husband or Wife” by Carole Haynes
"As You Share Your Hearts in Love” by Deborah T. Kinnebrew
"Because" by Steven Reiser
"Benediction of the Apaches"
"Blessing For A Marriage" by James Dillet Freeman
"Blessing of the Hands" 
"Desiderata"by Max Erhmann
"Falling In Love" by Vickie M. Worsham
"Friendship" by Judy Bielicki
"Gift From The Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"Hug O' War" by
Shel Silverstein
"I Am Lov
e"
"I Am Thankf
ul"
"I Love You” by Roy Croft
"I Wa
nt You” by Arthur L. Gillom
"I Will Be
Here"  by Steven Curtis Chapman
"If Thou Must Love M
e" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"In Marriage
" by Susan Polis Schutz
"In Your Li
fe Together" by Jon Peyton
"Irish
Blessing"
"Jazz" by Toni Morri
son
"Looking For Your Face" by Rumi
"Love" by Michele
Weber
"Love Endures"  by Douglas Pagels
"Love Is"  I Corinthians
13
“Love Is Friendship Caught Fire” by Laura Hendricks
"Loving You Brings
Me Such Happiness"  by Donna Fargo
"Marriag
e Advice From 1886" by Jane Wells
"Marriage Is" by Barbara
Cage
"Marriage Is Forever" by Regina Hill
"Marriage Joins Two People " by Edmund O’Neill
"Marriage Means" by Jon
Peyton
"Marriage Rests Upon" by Wendell Berry
"On Love" by Th
omas a Kempis
"On Love" by
Kahlil Gibran
"On Marriage" by Ka
hlil Gibran
"Our Love Can Last Forever" by Susan Polis Schutz
"She Walks In Beaut
y" by Lord Byron
“Somewhere
” by Edwin Arnold
“Sonnet 1
7” by Pablo Neruda
"Sonnet 18" by William
Shakespeare
"Sonnet 116" by William
Shakespeare
"Sonnet XLIII
" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“Sooner or Later”
"Take it One Day at a Time" by Julia E
scobar
"The Art of a Good Marriage" by Wilferd Arlan Peterson
"The Beauty of Being Soul Mates" by
Edwin Arnold
"The Colour Of My Love" by
David Foster 
"The Greatest Commitment of All" by
Barbara Cage
"The Hungering Dark" by Frede
rick Buechner
"The Hymn of the Universe" by Teilhar
d de Chardin
"The Irrational Season" by Made
leine L'Engle
"The Keys to Having a Great Relationship" by Robert M. Millay
"The Keys to Love
" by Robert M. Millay
"The Magic of Love" by
Helen Steiner Rice
"The Merchant of Venice" by Willi
am Shakespeare
"The Passionate Shepherd To
His Love" by Christopher Marlowe
"The Prayer" by Francis Assisi
"The Promises of Marriage" by Bettie Meeks & Douglas P
agels
"The Secret to a Successful Ma
rriage" by Susan Polis Schutz
"The T
hings I Promise To Be For You"
"The True Meaning of `I
do``" by Lisa Crofton
"The Web of Marriage
" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"These I Can P
romise"
“Time In A Bottle" by Jim Croce
“To Husband and W
ife" by Margaret Springdale
“Togethe
r in Marriage" by Susan Polis Schutz
"True Love"
"Union" by Robert Fulghum
"
Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams
"Walk With M
e In Love" by Susan Polis Schutz
"We Have Lived
and Loved Together" by Charles Jefferys
"What is a Marriage"
by Collin McCarty
"When We Mar
ry" by Thomas Moore
"Why Marriage" by Mari Nichols
"Wonder
ful Things are Shared" by Douglas Pagels
"You Were Born Together" by Kahlil Gibran
"You
r Love Was Meant to Be"  by Douglas Pagels
"Your Soul Mate Will..."  by Miranda Moti

"A Beautiful Journey"
  by Donna Fargo

“A great marriage begins with two people joined together in love as partners and best friends. It's a commitment to always be on each other's side, sharing everything...
When two people become one in spirit, every joy is doubled and every disappointment is diminished. They live their lives in an attitude of cooperation with each other. They plan on togetherness. They listen. They hope. They dream. They make mistakes. They understand. They forgive. And they move on...together. They're loyal to each other and steadfast in their pledge to be there for each other forever... through sickness or health, poverty, wealth, or whatever.
For these tow people, love is the magic that keeps them together and guides them on their journey, enhancing their lives and assuring their happiness.”

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"A Good Marriage"
  by Pearl S. Buck

“A good marriage is one where love is not destroyed. Love changes, of course, in its manifestation as time goes on and as individuals achieve higher levels of maturity, but change does not mean destruction. It can and should mean growth. A good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love.”

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"A History of Love"
  by Diane Ackerman


“Love. What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful. It has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art, cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved, driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fuelled national scandals, bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings. How can love’s spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable? Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization, with taproots spreading into deep and mysterious days. The heart is a living museum. In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit, preserved forever like wondrous diatoms, are our moments of loving, and being loved.”

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"A Marriage"
  by Mark Twain

 
A marriage...makes ot two fractional lives a whole;
it gives to two purposeless lives a work,
and doubles the strength of each to perform it;
it gives to two questioning natures a reason for living,
and something to live for;
it will give a new gladness to the sunshine,
a new fragrance to the flowers,
a new beauty to the earth,
and a new mystery to life.
 

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"A Reminder for the One I Love"
  by Rachyl Taylor


“We say 'I love you' just about every day. Sometimes the words are whispered as we fall asleep at night; sometimes they're spoken at the end of a phone conversation or accompanied by a quick kiss as we rush out the door. The words are always there, but sometimes we forget to think about how much they really mean.
Every time you hear me say those three little words, I want you to remember that they're coming from the bottom of my heart. I want you to remember that I love you for everything you are and for everything I am with you. I want you to remember that you're the best person I've ever known and I feel so lucky to have you in my life.
I want you to remember that true love is forever and there is no love truer than the love I feel for you. I want you to remember that you're the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me, my happy ending, my dream come true, my friend and my love all wrapped up in one.”

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"A Wonderful Gift"
  by Douglas Pagels


“Always remember the wishes and the romance and all the reasons your love came to be.
Never forget that love can see you through anything: all you have to do it just let it. Never turn away from the sweetness of sharing. You`re both so incredibly lucky: never forget it. Never let the important things go unspoken. The dreams you have together are guideposts in your days; never forsake them. The roads you walk together will lead to a deepening joy; go hand-in-hand as best friends on your way.
Never forget that many people search all their lives for the kinds of smiles you have been blessed with. Be sure to remember that love will always be life's most beautiful gift.
Share, support, speak from the heart, and listen with your very souls. Know that there will be times when you may disagree; nothing could be more natural. Simply remember that when you see things from two different perspectives, you need to give and take an compromise. The longest-lasting and most loving unions in the worlds all have moments when their journeys have uphill climbs. But the secret they share is knowing beyond any clouds that come along, the sun will keep on shining above.
As you continue on your path together, you will come across more joys than you'll ever be able to count. And you'll keep on discovering that the `forever` kind of love is the very best thing there is.
May you always and forever be lovingly blessed with this exquisite and wonderful gift... because you deserve to have all the joyous rewards... of a truly great relationship.”

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"Advise for a Marriage"
  by Carol Howard


“Treat each other with respect and kindness. Be open-minded, so that you may see each other's point of view. Listen to your heart and with your heart. Be patient when things don't go right; eventually, they'll be replaced by good things. Be loving, especially when the other is hurting over something. Be honest and don't hold back your feelings. Laugh a lot at yourselves and with each other.
Enjoy the good times, and think of them more often than the bad ones. Be there for one another at all times. Make yourself, as well as your spouse, happy, and let them find their own happiness, too. SHare all things; learn new things. Always remember the times when you first fell in love and all the special moments. Keep making every year special, and always love one another.”

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excerpt from
 “Any Husband or Wife”
 by Carole Haynes


 “Let us be guests in one another’s house, with a deferential “No” and courteous “Yes.” Let us take care to hide our foolish moods behind a certain show of cheerfulness. Let us avoid all sullen silences. We should find fresh and sprightly things to say. I must be fearful lest you find me dull, and you must dread to bore me any way. Let us knock gently at each other’s heart, glad of a chance to look within—and yet let us remember that to force one’s way is the unpardoned breach of etiquette. So we shall be host and hostess, until all need for entertainment ends. We shall be lovers when the last door shuts. But what is better still, we shall be friends.”

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"As You Share Your Hearts in Love"
  by Deborah T. Kinnebrew


“May you always find peace in your home. May you always be faithful to one another. May you always stay flexible enough to listen and consider each other`s opinion. May you always find ways to strengthen your bond with one another. May you be fully aware that one person is unable to fill all the needs of the other. May you continue to discover similar interests. May you appreciate each other`s good qualities and always focus on the positive. May your affection for one another never cease, but instead continue to grow - becoming a deeper, richer, and never-ending love.”

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"Because"
by Steven Reiser

Because we have things in common
We have the joy of sharing them

Because we are so different
There is so much we can learn from each other

Because we love each other
We look for the good in the other

Because we are forgiving
We overlook the faults in each other

Because we are patient
We give each other time to understand

Because we are filled with kindness
We compliment the things we do for each other

Because we can empathize
We know what it's like to stand in each other's shoes

Because we have character
We enjoy each other's uniqueness

Because we have faith
We believe in the best for the future

Because we are honest
We are comfortable to trust each other

Because we are filled with loyalty
We always know the other will be there

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"Benediction of the Apaches"

 "Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you.
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one Life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth"

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"Blessing For A Marriage"
by James Dillet Freeman

“May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another -- not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete. The valley does not make the mountain less, but more. And the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you entice one another, but not compel one another. May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another. May you succeed in all-important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults. If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back. May you enter into the mystery that is the awareness of one another's presence -- no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities. May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.”

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 “Blessing of the Hands"

“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”

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"Desiderata"
by Max Erhmann (1927)

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

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"Falling In Love"

“Falling in love is like being first to discover the most beautiful thing in the world or finding something so lovely that no one else had ever noticed. It is like glimpsing the first evening star or the rainbow that unexpectedly appears in the midst of a storm.
Love often starts in little ways. It comes quietly with a smile, a glance or a touch, but you know it's there because suddenly you're not alone and the sadness inside you is gone. Love means finally finding a place in this world that shelters you and is your very own - where you feel you have been forever.”

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"Friendship"
 by Judy Bielicki


“It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel. True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life-it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic. True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential. (Bride) and (Groom) came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.”

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