Another Letter

I feel that I should clarify a bit about the context of this letter. I started writing it on Friday the 2nd of December. I had been planning to pen it by hand and give it to Miriam, but for a variety of (mostly stupid) reasons I hadn't shown it to her until I posted it here, tonight. --James Miriam, A few days ago you said that you felt like you didn't know why I love you. Maybe I haven't expressed myself well enough. There are so many ways I love you that I've had to take a few days to figure out how to write them all down. You care about your friends, and find ways to show it. Whether it's making cookies for Nate when he was feeling down, or looking out for Brad when he's hard up for food, you always seem to know just what to do for people. You are shockingly intelligent. You understand so many things, and always bring a unique perspective to a conversation. You are sensitive to the spirit of things. You look behind the facades that so many people, ideas, and activities project and see their true faces. You understand people, and read them well. And you try to use this understanding for their benefit, rather than your own. You have a deep and personal testimony. The faith that you've expressed to me is sincere and heartfelt, and inspires me to lift up my eyes and pick up my pace. You are talented, creative, and artistic. You are eloquent both in speech, in thought, and in writing. You can express things through images in ways that astound me. You are beautiful. You have a sense of style and poise that is rare. You are a classy lady, and I love it. I love how you get this little crinkle at the corners of your mouth when you smile. Somehow you always manage to cheer me up when I feel morose or uncertain. Whether I feel sick, depressed, or just plain gloomy, talking with you always lifts my spirits. You have a sense of responsibility and maturity which belies your years. You think and plan ahead, and do what must be done to make your dreams real. You have a love of language, and know how to write words which resonate in the mind of the reader, or which linger in the ears of the listener. I love conversing with you, in any medium. You know the worth of things, both spiritually and financially. You see how to live life fully and without waste. You care about family. You watch out for both your current family and the one that is yet to be. Miriam, you're always on my mind. I want for you to be happy. It pains me to argue with you, or even to just loudly disagree. I worry when I see distress etched on your brow. I see the love you have for me, and I want for this love we share to continue to strengthen and deepen. I hope that this letter helps you to understand, even a little bit, what I see in you. I've written this down so that you can have it to hold and to keep. Remember what I've said here, whenever I say the words "I love you." Miriam, I love you. James