Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

February 2002 marks the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's reign in England. She was only 25 years old when she became Queen. Although her coronation didn't take place until June of 1953 her duties started when her father, King George VI, died in February 1952. How she came to reign is fascinating because her parents were not originally in line for the throne.

You may remember the story of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. Some call it "one of the greatest love stories of the 20th Century." You see, Edward VIII became king of England after the death of his father in January 1936. He was a 40ish debonair bachelor who had been having an affair with a twice married and once divorced American lady, Wallis Simpson. Pennsylvania born Wallis wasn't considered a beauty. In fact she herself said, "I'm nothing to look at, so the only thing I can do is dress better than anyone else." But whatever she did have attracted the King and he sought approval from his family, the Church of England, and political parties to marry her and make her Queen of England. This created so much controversy that on December 10, 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated his throne so he could marry her.

It reminds me of the Biblical account of Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 25:29-34) Esau was the eldest and should have gotten the inheritance. But he did not value his birthright and sold it to his younger brother for a bowl of soup. I'm not saying that Wallace Simpson was a bowl of soup but she must have been some kind of tasty dish for King Edward to give up the throne to marry her. When her second divorce became final, they married and lived a carefree life the rest of their days. Thus a man gives up being King of England to marry the woman he loves. Romantic? Yes! True love? I'm not sure.

Enter George VI, nicknamed "Bertie," Edward's younger brother. He was a shy, sickly child who stammered badly even into adulthood, much like Moses did in the Bible. (Exodus 4:10) He always looked up to and admired his big brother. He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, who loved him dearly and bore him two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret. When Edward abdicated the throne, the kingship was thrust on an unassuming, bland "Bertie," who didn't really want to be King but rose to the occasion admirably for the good of his country. While his brother and Wallis lived in Paris and the Bahamas, the King had the daunting task of declaring war on Germany in 1939 because of the tyrannical Hitler. He and his wife visited troops, factories, and bomb damaged areas. They even refused to leave Buckingham Palace when the Nazis were bombing London. Popular opinion of the throne was at the lowest point when "Bertie" became King but due to he and his wife's tireless efforts and dedication to the responsibility, they left the monarch in better condition than when they inherited it. King George VI died of cancer in 1952 at which time his daughter Elizabeth took the throne and remains there today. His wife, affectionately known as the Queen Mum, never remarried. She turned 101 last August. Now there's a love story! Love of country!

Love is not something you feel necessarily; it's something you do. Love is not somewhere you fall; it's a choice you make. Many people confuse love with emotion, lust, passion. True love isn't measured by what you do for yourself, but what you do for others. It knows there are more important things in life than YOU.

When I think of the greatest love story I think of Christ giving his life to die for our sins. He, too, wished there had been another way to accomplish this for He said, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou will." (Matthew 26:39) But there wasn't another way. So he willingly sacrificed his life for ours. It may not be romantic, but it is the greatest love we will ever know.

©February 2002

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