Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Time to think about how to show our Valentine love.

French writer François Rabelais offers this suggestion. “Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective, and valuable than words.”

How about these impressive gestures of love?

  • Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to the couple’s 14th child.

 

  • Edward VIII abdicated the throne for American Wallis Simpson. They married in 1937 and spent the rest of their lives in retirement in France. Makes me wonder if Prince Henry’s recent decision to leave the royal family was a gesture of love for his American wife.
  • Elizabeth Barrett Browning composed love poems for Robert Browning during their courtship. “Sonnets from the Portuguese” was published in 1850. That’s where we get the immortal line, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”

 

  • Joe DiMaggio was married to Marilyn Monroe for only 274 days in 1954. He spent the rest of his life sending red roses to her grave in Los Angeles three times a week.

My love hasn’t built me a Taj Mahal, but he willingly completes honey-do lists.

He hasn’t abdicated a throne, but he promises me he would if he had one to abdicate.

His love notes aren’t published, but the words surpass Ms. Browning’s sonnets.

I won’t be around to see if he leaves flowers on my grave, but he surprises me often with a lovely bouquet.

I considers all his gestures comparable to those of the people above.

How will you share Valentine love? Are you willing to share some awesome romantic gesture you’re planning or have received?