A recipe for a good marriage.

It has been 3 years since I published the article. It has been one of the highest ranking article I have published. I thought today, for various reasons, would be good to re-post.

Spice everything with love. by Candy Clonts

I was give a spice tin with this poem printed on it when I got married over 30 years ago. The spice tin has long disappeared, but I have kept the poem written down and stored away and put labels with this poem on many spice tins for gifts. There was also a story that came along with it and I HAVE lost that. But to best of my memory is goes something like this.

An elderly man was sitting in his easy chair watching his wife of many year fixing dinner as usual. After each meal he would always compliment her on such a fine meal, and rub his full belly.

Many times he would see her put a specific spice or seasoning in her meals. He would ask her, “Honey, what is that you’re put in our supper?” Her reply would be the same, “Something to make it extra special, it is a secret.” Then he would ask, “How come you’ve never run out of it, it is the same ol’ tin of stuff since we got when we married, how come it’s not all gone?” Again in her sweet little voice, “It only takes a very small amount to go a long way.” The conversation would end there, with a satisfied sign from him. The woman passed away and nothing ever tasted the same. He thought he had learned all her secrets to cooking.

(In the earlier years he would pester her in the kitchen and tease her that she wasn’t doin’ things right, but they always were so good. She would say, “I don’t need children to pester me at supper time, I have to deal with and under foot all the time. Now go find somethin’ to do while I fix supper”. They were not blessed with children of their own, but loved each other greatly. Through the years they would take in other children from troubled homes or wearied travelers for a spell.)

One evening as he was fixin’ his supper he looked on the shelf above the stove and noticed the red tin with the special seasoning. He thought, “She never would let me see what this was, and I know she used it regularly, guess I’ll give it a try.” As he picked up the tin this is what he read.

Recipe For A Happy Marriage

4 cups of Love
2 cups of Loyalty
Dash of Faith
3 cups of Kindness
4 cups of Understanding
1 cup of Friendship
5 spoonfuls of Hope
1 barrel of Laughter
Pinch of Forgiveness (no substitutions)
Dash of Thoughtfulness (not optional)

Take love and loyalty and mix thoroughly with faith.

Blend in kindness and understanding, add friendship and hope.
Sprinkle abundantly with laughter. Garnish with forgiveness and thoughtfulness.
Bake with sunshine.
Serve daily with generous helpings.

He took the tin with him to the table and sat and wept. “All these years it has nothin’ in it but her love.”

That is what his wife seasoned each meal with. Love.

God bless you and may your days be seasoned with love also. ❤