Worthy of Being Pleased

Day seven of the blogathon already. I don’t know about you, but the more I write every day, the easier it is for me. I think this is a good habit we are getting into :). Today’s prompt is to pick a quote and respond to it.

There are so many wonderful quotes that I could have picked… but I am afraid I landed back on the wonderful Jane Austen in the form of Pride and Prejudice (I know, I know. You are thinking. Really? Again? But I think that this book is a masterpiece that we can learn many valuable life lessons from!). I chose an excerpt that I love from the book. Darcy’s words.

“You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.” (Part 3 Chapter 16)

Define “a woman worthy of being pleased?” To what end would a good man go to find such a woman. To what end would that same man go to secure such a woman for himself?

A woman worthy of being pleased must be something. The kind that we read about in these wonderful novels. The kind that are moral, good natured, intelligent, loving, generous, sweet, educated, and yes, accomplished. These are the kinds of women that are truly worthy of being pleased. 

And what would we ask of the men who would endeavor to seek our trust, our love, or commitment? We see a fine example of this in the hero of this tale, the wonderful Mr. Darcy. He looks inside himself and finds justice in the censure he received from the woman he loves. And then he allows her words to torture and change him. He bares inconvenience, embarrassment and disgust to secure the happiness of one to whom he cares nothing for. He himself pays the debt of the one he truly hates. He stands up for his woman when others look down upon her. He bares the inequality of the connection because she is worth it. He would do anything to make that woman love him. She so far beneath him in social status and fortune, yet he feels her to be so far above him in every other way. She is truly worth it. 

And so our hero is a fine example of what a man should be. He should go to the ends of the earth for the one he loves. A woman worthy of being pleased requires above and beyond the common way of courting a woman. She requires the wholehearted attention and proof of devotion that we see demonstrated in Mr. Darcy’s love for Elizabeth. 

What quote inspires or riles you? Link below!

Call Me Mrs. Old Fashioned

Happy Monday everyone! A new day and a new lovely week to recommence the blogathon! Today’s prompt is a fun one: rant about something.

I was not sure what I was going to rant about today until I happened upon another girl’s blog over the weekend. She was writing about marriage. Overall she had a lot of good things to say, but her premise just set the fire inside of me because she felt that the traditional or “old fashioned” way of doing things is no longer relevant in our society.

I happen to be an individual with very strong convictions in regards to family and marriage. God created this wonderful union between a husband and a wife because we complete one another. Yes, we drive each other crazy on occasion. But what would life be if you didn’t feel a little crazy sometimes?

This particular blogger was pointing out that fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. Therefore she felt that those who enter into marriage should not have a big wedding and spend money until they have been together ten years. Essentially, skip the whole “marriage” thing entirely. I am not saying that I think it is a good idea to get in debt over a wedding… but really, what sense does it make to stay together for ten years to see if you will make it in your marriage. Where is your commitment? So the first ten years of your relationship you have a back door with an “out” just in case he is particularly irritating?

What is so great about our society these days that we throw all of the wonderful, Christian founded principals out the window for the sake of being “old fashioned?”

It is almost as if individuals wander into marriage with their fingers crossed hoping to be part of the fifty percent that do make it.

I feel like I should be talking to Charlotte from Pride and Prejudice to retort her belief that "happiness in life is entirely a matter of chance you know." Happiness in life and success in marriage is not chance, or fate, or the happily ever after feeling. No, the success comes down to something far more tangible – you.

Call me old fashioned but (second to my walk with the Lord) my marriage, my husband, and my home, are number one priority in my life. It is not my job, school, hobby, ministry, or anything else of import in life. Because the importance of everything else fades away in comparison to this wonderful gift God has given me. A companion to walk though life with. Forever. For what God has joined together, let no man separate.

What gets you riled up? Link below!

Who Would You Fall in Love With?

Today's post will end the first week of the blogathon. We have the whole weekend off before we start again with prompts and inspiration on Monday :)

Our theme for today is inspired directly from the heart of a lover of literature, imaginary characters, and enjoyment found in escaping into different worlds discovered between the pages.

Name your top three favorite literary heroes and why.

1. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.

This one is a no-brainer for me. He is truly one of the most wonderful characters ever written. Tall, handsome, witty, rich, intelligent, generous, all balanced by a tasteful amount of sarcasm, pessimism, and pride (well, tasteful after Elisabeth get's a hold of his heart). Every single time I read this book I find something new to love about this character or a novel way to be inspired or amused by his behavior. Truly a wonderful hero.

2. Sir Percy Blakeney from The Scarlet Pimpernel.

I read this book for this first time at age twelve, and I am pretty sure a little piece of my heart belongs to Sir Percy, the valiant hero of the French Revolution. A more intelligent, good looking, romantic, or brave hero was never written. I have to share a quote from him to demonstrate what a wonderful character his is.(Yes, I REALLY am aware that he is a fictional character and that this was actually written by an author.... but when I read.... I become involved with the characters. They become my brilliant friends. People I learn from, respect, and sympathize with. Other readers understand I am sure). Having said that, Percy:

"And 'twill be when you understand that your idol has feet of clay that you'll learn the real  lesson of love. Is it love to worship a saint in heaven, whom you dare not touch, who hovers above you like a cloud, which floats away from you even as you gaze? To love is to feel one being in the world at one with us, our equal in sin as well as in virtue. To love, for us men, is to clasp one woman with our arms, feeling that she lives and breathes just as we do, thinks with us, loves with us, and, above all, sins with us. Your mock saint who stands in a niche is not a woman if she have not suffered, still less a woman if she have not sinned. Fall at the feet of your idol as you wish, but drag her down to your level after that - the only level she should ever reach, that of your heart." - From Baroness Orczy's I Will Repay.

 3. Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights.

Heathcliff... the truly tragic hero of Bronte's work. This character is akin to the bad boy of classic literature. His poetic nature draws the poet unto himself. And yet his dark side shuts the noble out. While reading the sketch of his character throughout the pages I love him and hate him, pity him and blame him, hope for him and then against him. It is an amazing literary creation which excites such confusion of feeling.

These are my choices for wonderful literary characters. I am curious to see what others would choose. Link below!

Thoughts on Marriage (A quick ‘aside’ from our trip)

I am feeling inspired by the happiness that can be found in a good marriage at this moment. It is partly due to the level of happiness that I am currently feeling and partly from dwelling on some wonderful lines from “Pride and Prejudice” that I have taken up this train of thought. 

I was writing in my journal, effusively relaying all of the wonderful things Cory and I have been doing. Without even thinking I was letting my words flow across the page. I looked back on one particular statement that I wrote read, “we are having so much fun together. There really is nothing better than a good marriage”. And so then my journaling about places and memories progressed to ideas regarding life and marriage. I feel so extremely blessed in my marriage and I am just so thankful! 

I was reading Lizzy’s lamentations regarding her new understanding of how well her and Mr. Darcy would have fit, had she accepted his proposals. (no matter how many times I read that book, something always strikes me as new and wonderful. I really do feel like the girls from The Jane Austen book club sometimes). The description of two people, so dissimilar and yet so fitting, is beautiful. 

I then thought of Lydia’s situation. Lizzy wonders “how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue”. This description of an improper relationship heightens the idea of a happy marriage. And so we have a picture of marriage as it ought to be, with a solid foundation of virtue and a couple who perfectly balance the idiosyncrasies of their partner. 

This is a happy beginning for Lizzy and Darcy, and a happy beginning for Cory and me. A good marriage will provide many wonderful things, not the least of these being a friend to travel around Europe with; many laughs together at the expense of the crazy Europeans; a foot rub after a strenuous day of sightseeing; a work out partner; someone who will walk half a mile in the rain carrying your laptop so that you can talk to your family; someone to dance with under the stars on the top deck after recognizing the faint sound of Armstrong singing “what a wonderful world”… 

Yes… there truly is nothing better than a good marriage!