LOVE POEM: Love is SAYING YES -- Even In The Hard Times

I LOVED YOU

long before I ever met you.

Long before I ever knew

the contours

of your face

Before I ever wrapped my arms

around your waist;

Before I ever Knew

what made you

laugh or cry,

scared or feel alone.

I loved you long before I said

YES!

YES

to your kisses

and comforting embrace

YES

to snuggling with you

and making love with you

YES

to spending the rest of my life

with you.

But what I am discovering lately

is this:

The funny thing about love

is that you have to

keep saying

YES.

YES

to trash night

and cleaning the bathroom.

YES

to sharing a bank account

and a mortgage.

YES

to long labors

and sleepless nights

YES

to unexpected losses

and missed opportunities

YES

to being vulnerable

and choosing to join each other

when we'd rather jump ship.

We have to say yes --

to all of it --

the happy and ecstatic moments

as well as the sad and mournful moments

We have to keep saying yes

year after year --

and sometimes

minute by minute!

We have to choose to say yes,

this moment,

this breath.

So on the day I stand

in front of family and friends,

I'll say yes to you --

in that moment,

with that breath,

and all the breaths

I am to have.

--LISA A. MCCROHAN--