Truth and Reality: In Sickness and in Health

Originally posted as a FB note on June 3, 2014

In Sickness and in Health

June 3, 2014 at 10:34pm

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June 4th, 26 years ago, I married the love of my life. We stood before our closest friends and family and pledged our love and commitment to each other.  26 years -- it's amazing.  We took our vows, made an oath, a covenant before witnesses.  The greatest witness who beheld our promises was God Himself.  

To love and honor.  For richer and poorer. In sickness and in health.  Words can be so romantic.

Reality:

"In sickness and in health" is NOT romantic.

I've seen the videos and the movies.  You know, where the girlfriend find out she's terminally ill (or vice versa).  The couple decides to get married.  He takes care of her until her last breath. We cry and then wish for a love JUST like that in our lives. Movies. Romanticized movies.

The reality is that marriage is hard work.  It's compromise. Mistakes. Forgiveness. Trial and error. Learning. It's hope and working together towards fulfilling common dreams.

Dealing with life-long, life-altering, death-looming chronic illness in a marriage is beyond comprehension. It's all of the above, plus sadness. Loneliness.  Hurt. Exhaustion. Fear. Hope. Fear of Hoping. Expectation and then the heart-wrenching, crushing reality of altered dreams and lives that will never be as they once were.

The sights. Sounds. Smells. Incomprehensible. At times unbearable...never romantic.

Regardless of the circumstance, this bond that we have is unbreakable.  The core, our foundation, is God and He is immoveable.       

Truth:

The question comes up from time to time: "If you knew back then what you know now, would you do it all over again?"  In a heartbeat. Without question.  Without hesitation. Yes.

He loves me.  I love him.  We love God. 

We love God.  I love him. He loves me.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (I Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV)

Love is amazing.