Celebrating romance and marriage on Valentine’s Day

This post celebrates love through stories of extraordinary couples, including a renowned columnist with a high IQ and her artificial heart developer husband, as well as childhood sweethearts overcoming disabilities. It underscores the common themes of respect, caring, and commitment in relationships, echoing the sentiment that “All you need is love.”


What the word needs now is love, sweet love, that’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” 

Hal David, lyricist

I’m glad you found this post, enjoy it, or view an updated version at this link.

a red heart
Valentine heart graphic from Lightstock.com, affiliate link

One of my Sunday traditions is reading Parade, a magazine in the newspaper. One of my favorite parts is the “Ask Marilyn” column where Marilyn Vos Savant answers complex questions on a wide range of subjects- math, science, medicine, technology, economics, games, sports, and just about any topic you can imagine.

I have wondered how she does it, imagining it must take hours and hours of research.

But then I learned her history.  She has one of the highest IQs in the world. She is certifiably the world’s smartest woman. 

One week,  Parade published an article about how she met her husband. She is married to none other than Dr. Robert Jarvik, developer of the artificial heart.

They met when he called her after reading a magazine article about her and had a long-distance courtship lasting one year.

At their wedding, science fiction author Isaac Asimov walked her down the aisle; the best man was the 7th recipient of one of the Jarvik artificial hearts! How’s that for romantic. They have been happily married since 1987.      

Isaac Asimov: The Complete Stories, Vol. 1


Books by Marilyn Vos Savant 

Growing Up: A Classic American Childhood

The Power of Logical Thinking 

Another love story-Austin and Jessica 

Another couple featured in the issue, Austin and Jessica, were literal childhood sweethearts, having met as toddlers. They and their parents met in a support group- for families of children with Down Syndrome.

With their parents’ support, they have overcome their disabilities to build a loving, stable marriage- and maybe because he “treats her like a princess.”

These are two very different couples who share something special-

respect, caring, and commitment to the person they love.

As Beatles John and Paul (Lennon and McCartney) told us many years ago,

All you need is love.”

 

(These and some other links in this post are to affiliate sites that may pay this blog a small commission. )

My love story

It wasn’t Valentine’s Day, but my husband and I shared a romantic dinner on vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Read about our romance at the link below the photo

Two Words That Changed My Life

man and woman at dinner
Dr. Aletha and Raymond

LIGHTSTOCK.COM, AFFILIATE LINK


 

sharing the HEART of love

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Dr. Aletha

Light and Life Without Limbs-meet Nick Vujicic

Do you ever feel you can’t let your light shine? Nick Vijicic felt that way and he probably has a reason to. Nick was born with amelia- absence of arms and legs. He wondered what he could possibly accomplish without limbs.

updated September 28, 2023

Do you ever feel you can’t let your light shine? Maybe you think you don’t have any light to shine? I have, even as I write this blog or when I was taking care of patients.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

LIGHT & LIGHT WITHOUT LIMBS-MEET NICK VUJICIC


Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Meet Nick Vujicic

Nick Vijicic felt that way and he probably has a reason to. Nick was born with amelia- the absence of arms and legs. He wondered what he could possibly accomplish without limbs.

Reflecting on Matthew 5, Nick wrote in his devotional book

Limitless: Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life  


Nothing will bring you down faster than living without purpose or losing track of whatever you are most passionate about, the gift that gives you joy and makes your life meaningful.

Finding purpose took Nick from being a depressed suicidal teenager to a man who “travels the world on God’s business” and has a “ridiculously good life” with his wife and children. He tells this story in his book

Love Without Limits: A Remarkable Story of True Love Conquering All


When our focus becomes self centered instead of God centered, we lose our greatest source of power. Our God given talents are meant to benefit others.

I agree with Nick. I became a doctor and write this blog to use my skills and knowledge to help you. Now that I am retired from practice, I’m learning the skills to do life coaching for the same reason. When I forget my purpose, these quickly become burdens instead of sources of joy and excitement.

Ask yourself these questions.

  • What in life matters to me?
  • What brings me joy?
  • What drives me and gives my life meaning?

exploring the HEART of health

I recommend Nick’s books where he tells the story of his remarkable life and more about what motivates and inspires him.

I’ve included some affiliate links to them, for your convenience and to help me fund this blog.

Thanks for joining me to meet Nick and explore his incredible journey. Please follow me here and on social media to explore and share the HEART of health.

Dr. Aletha

Here is a link to Nick’s website

Life Without Limbs

Watch this video to see what happened when Nick went to prison.