How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways…

Don’t give up on romance even if it’s the last minute.  Here is an idea that is easy and costs almost nothing — yet it’s sure to touch the heart of the person you love.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning inspired this idea through the poem she wrote during her courtship with her husband, Robert Browning.  They exchanged almost 575 letters between them during that time. Though she was English, Elizabeth moved to Italy immediately following her wedding and spent the remaining days of her life in Italy. Elizabeth loved her husband so much that she married him despite the protestations of her family. She gave up her home and her relationship with the rest of her family to be with the person she loved.

The full text of her poem is below:

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Here is the project:

Find some sticky notes (I chose three shades of pink.) and write the reasons you love your someone on the pages. Place the pages on a mirror or a door in the shape of a heart where your special person is sure to see them.

Write the first lines of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous poem on the mirror with some chalk paint, or use your word processing program to make a sign to go above the heart.

I chose liquid chalk, as you can see.

This is a sample of how you could make a sign to go above the heart.  You could also just use the first lines.

You can see my finished product.  It was fairly quick, very inexpensive, and I’m sure my husband will appreciate the fact that I made something instead of buying a card. I don’t know about you, but I rarely find a card that says what I want it to say.

Below are some of the reasons that I love my husband.  You are welcome to borrow any of these lines, but I’m sure you’ll be able to personalize this idea with some of your own sentiments.

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways…

I love you for taking out the garbage.

I love the way you sing in the shower.

I love you for being a good father.

I love you for being my best friend.

I love you for being faithful to your family.

I love you for helping in the kitchen.

I love you for taking the dog out every night.

I love you for always putting gas in the car.

I love you for working, even when you don’t feel like it.

I love you for taking me out to dinner so I can have a night off.

I love you for encouraging me to try something new.

I love you for thanking me when I make your lunch.

I love you for getting me groceries on short notice so I can finish a recipe.

I love you for making me popcorn.

I love you for inviting me to lunch.

I love you for being kind to my parents.

I love you for lending me your hankie when I cry.

I love you for driving when the weather is bad.

I love you for driving our daughter to her tests and taking a day off to do it.

I love you for going shopping with me even when you don’t like shopping.

I love you for going to church with our family.

I love you for your faith in Christ.

I love you for letting us travel.

I love you for learning how to ski just so you could ski with me.

I love you for giving me your umbrella when it rains.

I love you for always saying “goodbye” and “I love you” before you leave for work.

I love you for being a good son and calling to check on your parents on a regular basis.

I love you for always thinking I’m beautiful, even when I don’t feel like it.

I love you for telling me I look nice when I get dressed up.

I love you for always remembering my birthday.

I love you for getting excited when your team wins.

I love you for being willing to play board games with us.

I love you for your sense of humor.

I love you for loving me just the way I am.

Happy Valentine’s Day to All!