“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.” (Ephesians 5:25-26 NLT)
*Let me be clear. You don’t have to love Jesus to love your spouse or family, but if you do profess faith, loving your family is a top priority. I don’t know the origin or author of this story, or whether or not they knew the Lord, but it’s heartfelt and a very good example for us. I just appreciate this father’s love and faithfulness to his family and hope we can follow his good example to the honor of our Lord and Savior. Blessings, Ed
“My parents were married for 55 years. One morning, as my mom was heading downstairs to make Dad breakfast, she suffered a heart attack and fell. My father, with all the strength he could muster, picked her up and nearly dragged her into his truck. He drove at full speed to the hospital, ignoring traffic lights, desperate to save her.
By the time they arrived, she was gone.
At the funeral, my father barely spoke. His gaze seemed lost, and tears rarely came. That evening, as my siblings and I sat with him, we shared memories of Mom. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow and nostalgia. My father turned to my brother, a theologian, and asked, “Where is your mom now?”
My brother began speaking about life after death and where she might be. Dad listened intently. Suddenly, he interrupted: “Take me to the cemetery.”
“Dad, it’s 11 at night,” we protested. “We can’t go now!”
With a steely voice and tear-filled eyes, he replied, “Don’t argue with the man who just lost his wife of 55 years.”
Respectfully, we complied. At the cemetery, under the beam of a flashlight, he knelt by her grave. Gently caressing her resting place, he prayed and then turned to us with words that will stay with me forever:
“It was 55 years… no one can speak of true love unless they’ve lived it. She and I shared everything—crises, moves, the joy of raising you kids, the pain of losing loved ones, hospital prayers, Christmas hugs, and forgiveness for our mistakes.
Now she’s gone, and you know what? I’m at peace. I’m grateful she went first. She didn’t have to bear the pain of losing me or face the loneliness of my absence. I’ll take that burden because I love her too much to let her endure it.”
As he finished, tears streamed down our faces. He pulled us into a hug and said, “It’s okay. We can go home. It’s been a good day.”
That night, I understood the essence of true love. It’s not just about romance or physical attraction. True love is found in shared struggles, unwavering care, forgiveness, and the bond of two people deeply committed to one another.
Love like this leaves a mark on the soul forever.
Food for thought.
Walking With Jesus 