Doves:

While listening to some of my favorite tracks, I noted that
the song, He Stopped Loving Her Today, contains the line:

   "hoping she'd come back again"

It reminded me of what it might feel like for the foolish virgins who did
not keep oil in their lamps.  God was ALL THE WHILE waiting for them....

   Matthew 25
   The Parable of the Ten Virgins
   1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who
   took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of
   them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their
   lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took
   oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time
   in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
   6 "At midnight the cry rang out:

      'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

   7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish
   ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
   9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead,
   go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
   10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom
   arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding
   banquet. And the door was shut.
   11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
   12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
   13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

He Stopped Loving Her Today
George Jones
Words and Music by Bob Braddock and Claude Putman, Jr.

(peak Billboard position # 1 in 1980)

He said "I'll love you till I die", she told him "You'll forget in time"
As the years went slowly by, she still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall, went half-crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all, hoping she'd come back again

Kept some letters by his bed dated nineteen sixty-two
He had underlined in red every single "I love you"

I went to see him just today, oh but I didn't see no tears
All dressed up to go away, first time I'd seen him smile in years

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

SPOKEN
You know, she came to see him one last time. Aww, 'n' we all wondered if she
would. And it kept runnin' through my mind-"this time he's over her for good."

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today