Patterico's Pontifications

4/20/2014

Enduring Love

Filed under: General — Dana @ 1:02 pm



[guest post by Dana]

For those in the faith, today is Resurrection Day – the make-or-break moment of the Christian faith. Without the Resurrection, there would be no manifestation of a divine living Love – so personal and perfect and whole that He pierces the heart with laser-like precision, laying it bare before our Maker as the amazing and arduous process of transformation begins. The Resurrection is the hope of the believer, the heart of faith, and the assurance that at the end of this earthly journey where we often find ourselves struggling through a vale of tears, there will be rest, there will be joy, and there will be peace. We are but pilgrims passing through. And without hope, what is one left with?

This morning, I considered posting on the unique gift of free speech we enjoy in America – in spite of how cynical, cowardly, and offensive it may be.

I considered posting about Google’s decision not to have an Easter doodle, but decisions like that have become cliche. Let’s just be glad Serbia National Day and Turkey Election 2014 and Britain’s First National Park weren’t ignored, okay? Because that would have been really awful.

But, given that it is a day to recognize Hope and Love, I decided to do a simple post on what really matters in this life: Enduring Love. And if for some reason, one is fortunate to find another to share the journey with, it becomes all the more unique. This love is the difficult love that calls one to walk through sorrow as well as joy while holding on to each other – no matter what seeks to tear apart. It is to believe in the united power of shared love when all might seem lost. It calls, even demands to put the other’s needs and well-being before one’s own, as well as to share in the victories, defeats, struggles, heartache, loss, and golden moments in between – while never letting go of each other.

A couple who held hands at breakfast every morning even after 70 years of marriage have died 15 hours apart.

Helen Felumlee, of Nashport, died at 92 on April 12. Her husband, 91-year-old Kenneth Felumlee, died the next morning.

The couple’s eight children say the two had been inseparable since meeting as teenagers, once sharing the bottom of a bunk bed on a ferry rather than sleeping one night apart

The pair had known each other for several years when they eloped in Newport, Ky., across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, on Feb. 20, 1944.

At two days shy of his 21st birthday, Kenneth was too young to marry in Ohio.

‘He couldn’t wait,’ son Jim Felumlee said.

Kenneth worked as a railroad car inspector and mechanic before becoming a mail carrier for the Nashport Post Office.

He was active in his Nashport-Irville United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher.

Helen stayed at home, not only cooking and cleaning for her own family but also for other families in need in the area.

She taught Sunday school, too, but was known more for her greeting card ministry, sending cards for birthdays, sympathy and the holidays to everyone in her community, each with a personal note inside.

‘She kept Hallmark in business,’ daughter-in-law Debbie Felumlee joked.

When Kenneth retired in 1983 and the children began to leave the house, the Felumlees began to explore their love of travel, visiting almost all 50 states by bus.

‘He didn’t want to fly anywhere because you couldn’t see anything as you were going,’ Jim Felumlee said.

Although both experienced declining health in recent years, Cody said, each tried to stay strong for the other.

‘That’s what kept them going,’ she said.

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Note: The views of faith expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of management here at Patterico’s. These are the author’s alone.

–Dana

21 Responses to “Enduring Love”

  1. I think they had a doodle about the first African American to use a vending machine.

    CrustyB (d4da92)

  2. I’d say this is appropriate here.

    Widower’s Moving Song About His Late Wife Becomes Viral Hit Read More: Widower’s Moving Song About His Late Wife Become Viral Hit

    Countless songs have been written about lost love, but none quite so touching as a tune penned by Fred Stobaugh.

    Shortly after his wife of 73 years passed away, Stobaugh, 96, wrote a song in her honor called ‘Sweet Lorraine.’

    Stobaugh lacks musical ability, so he decided to enter an online singer-songwriter contest after seeing an ad in the newspaper (yes, we know, it’s ironic). Being unfamiliar with the technological marvel known as email, Stobaugh fired off his lyrics and a letter explaining his story.

    The folks at Illinois’ Green Shoe Studio, which ran the competition, were blown away by Stobaugh, so they decided to produce an actual song (available on iTunes) for him and recorded everything for a short film called ‘A Letter from Fred.’ The result is a moving look at the timeless power of love and the pain of loss…

    Read More: Widower’s Moving Song About His Late Wife Become Viral Hit | http://thefw.com/widowers-song-about-wife/?trackback=tsmclip

    Steve57 (0124e7)

  3. Dana – do not undervalue yourself or others … “Note: The views of faith expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of management here at Patterico’s. These are the author’s alone.” … you are *not* alone …

    At the Easter service at the Hollywood Bowl today, I found myself listening to “Jesus Alone Can Save” – and realised that I hear that as “Jesus by Himself Can Save”, not as “Jesus Is the Only One Who Can Save” … as in His Example and Practice are enough to Save …

    Alastor (2e7f9f)

  4. You can have a long and happy marriage without Faith (we’ve been married nearly 49 years now) but it’s a bit harder. I envy people with Faith.

    Skeptical Voter (12e67d)

  5. Thank you, Dana. We live a strange, strange world.

    Imagine how the Felumlees felt, seeing all the changes.

    But they had each other.

    A lovely story. It may not get a Google Doodle, but it did touch my heart. And I am posting that story to FB.

    Simon Jester (e53ca6)

  6. This was the concluding story on the ABC Evening News tonight.

    Sammy Finkelman (ba30b8)

  7. our society doesn’t raise people like that anymore…

    it’s all about me, right now, and what can you do for me…

    redc1c4 (abd49e)

  8. The Felumlee story is just so sad, and inspiring, at the same time.
    R.I.P.

    askeptic (8ecc78)

  9. Here’s an article from the new Register about another seven decade couple who are still with us! And what a handsome couple they are.

    http://www.losangelesregister.com/articles/greg-597691-beach-bette.html

    elissa (602cb9)

  10. Sometimes it feels like we’ve been married seven decades…

    Gazzer (8a1037)

  11. This world will not endure.

    http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2014/04/gun-control-still-working-swimmingly-in.html

    There is no evidence of improvement whatever.

    gary gulrud (e2cef3)

  12. Alastor @ 3,

    The only reason I put the note at the end of the post was to make sure readers didn’t assume that I, as a guest poster, reflect Patterico’s personal views on faith. I don’t.

    Dana (9a8f57)

  13. I hope you all had a happy Easter

    Gil (27c98f)

  14. Very moving post, Dana. Thank you.

    felipe (098e97)

  15. I’ve been the recipient of a persistent and enduring love. Jesus said: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

    In other words: hey, lets sit down for dinner and catch up

    For full context:

    Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20’Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21’He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.…

    steveg (794291)

  16. Great post, Dana, thanks.

    Lovely picture too of a lovely couple.

    Patricia (be0117)

  17. I envy people with Faith.
    Comment by Skeptical Voter (12e67d) — 4/20/2014 @ 2:58 pm

    I am not being trite or sarcastic. Have you ever asked God for it?

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  18. 18. Doc, I left you a couple of links on your IPCC intrigue. The first Attkisson thread.

    gary gulrud (384f70)

  19. Yes gary, I saw them, thank you.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZGghmwUcbQ

    For an advertisement, this is pretty damned good.

    Smock Puppet, "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." (225d0d)

  21. It’s going to be end of mine day, except before finish I am reading this wonderful paragraph to improve my experience.

    Programme minceur Agar-Agar en 15 jours (d95a43)


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