2 October 1917 Edith to Stuart - Letter #2

Edith to Stuart
2.10.17
Dearest,
It is quite likely that you will never read this, for tomorrow you may tell me it is not at all proper, and so I shall not give it to you. But I am going to write a little bit all the same, because it feels better inside afterwards. Last night, I almost felt that I had really said “Good-night” to you.
I am sure I have never thanked you really, properly and enough for this ring which you have given me. It looks lovely now in the candle-light, but you are right in saying that it looks better still in day-light, and it looks best of all when the sun shines upon it. Then the middle stone in bluer than anything I ever saw. When I look at it, I hope that all things between us may be as beautiful as this is. Here’s one who will try her hardest to make it so, and I know you will do your best. Between us we may, God grant that we shall, do better than most people we know.
Now I am going to say something very seriously – Nothing is good enough for you but the Best – You must not say of anything, “It’s good enough for me”, if there is better to be had, not even a flower. If there is on the plant a better daisy than the one I give you, then the one I give is not good enough for you. (You know I always try to find the best, don’t I?) it’s the same with everything else, the big things and the little things. Now, I wonder if you are laughing, and say, “Then what about yourself”. I know I am like a good many other things, not good enough, and so, I am afraid my own preaching falls through, for I cannot tell you that you must find some-one better than me, because – You know why, don’t you? This is horrid, preachy stuff I am writing, and not a bit what I want to say, so I am going to stop and just give you a little poetry piece. I wonder if you know what I’m driving at, I hardly know myself, but I don’t like to hear you say, “That’s good enough for me”, as if you were any sort of man, instead of what you are, one of the finest, no, that wrong, The Finest.

Yes, we may hope!
For we are seeds,
Dropped into earth for heavenly blossoming.
Perchance, when comes the time of harvesting,
His loving care.
May find some use for even a humble tare.

We know not what we shall be – only this –
That we shall be made like Him – as He is.

Good-night, Dearest. Sleep well, and wake up in the morning - happy.

(c) DearestBeloved 2009