Good Manners

"[charity] doth not behave itself unseemly,"

I Corinthians 13:5

Love is mannerly.  Love knows how to behave in all situations.  There is such a joy in being married to someone who knows how to act in social situations.  True love will work to be appropriate in speech, in dress, in behavior in any situation that it is in.  How I long to be a "crown" to my husband by showing good manners wherever we are.  For me the work is to be appropriate in a "shooting" party, or when out camping - these are more unfamiliar than "stuffy" occasions.  Hubby on the other hand has to work harder at the formal events.  We were privileged to have such a social situation to be involved in this past weekend.  I was pleased when hubby wanted to arrive appropriately early, when my usually possessive hubby bowed to tradition as the usher seated us, when we were seated a few times in "awkward" company and hubby rose to the occasion in involving all around us in conversation.  On the flip side, I was embarrassed for those who stalled the beginning of the wedding by arriving so close to the start of the wedding that they could not sign the guest pages and be seated before the given time. 

Love also knows the right way to express itself in public without becoming cold and without making others uncomfortable. 

Today was a big yard work day.  It has been slowly cooling off, so there was much to do.  The yard was mowed, some dead flowers pulled, some vegetables trimmed back, some mulching done.  It is a good start - still much to do, but it will keep until tomorrow.  Time to clean up in the house!