by Lady Arabella

Created on: June 18, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

The most valuable gift I learned from my husband was quietness,to be able to listen and without interruption, I came to notice that people who have this quality are respected for their opinions also highly regarded by all those who come in contact with them.

When I look back over the years the one thing that comes to mind is when ever we had family get togethers,s the young ones who either got bored or where not able to join in conversations would always go and sit near my husband who would just be sitting listening to the surrounding chatter,they would look up at him almost studying him,and you could see they were wondering what to say he would look at them and wink and ask"what are you going to do when you grow up"the next few moments were ones of deep thought then the flood gates opened almost as if they had never been spoken to pesonally before he would listen intently and when they had finished always made them feel they were the most important people in the room.

As time has moved on I now see the profound impact this has had on the younger members of our family,not only our children relate this back to me but also our grandchildren,who say with such love and affection how they remembered things Dad and Granddad said,the stories he told[tongue in cheek]about when he was fighting in the jungle and the animals he came across and how he tamed them,the look on their faces said it all,I now see on so many occasions that through our children the same quietness and respect is beginning to show itself in our grandchildren,
the ability to listen.
I see today in my Son the epitome of my husband his quiet and resolute way that he teaches his Son,a look that tells him"think twice before you do that"Our Daughters also remember the laughter at their Fathers stories and the quiet way he used to speak to them which in turn is being passed down to their own children,but most of all our children remember the love and respect he gave them and in return he received the same from his children and grandchildren.

So the greatest thing I learned from my Husband was quietness and the capacity to listen, You see I lost my Husband a short time ago and I thank him from the bottom of my heart the gift of QUIETNESS,LOVE,and RESPECT without him we would not have had such memories.My Wish would be that Quietness were contageous and out of that may come Peace

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