Till Death do Us Part

MaryBeth Chrisman passed away this past Memorial Day. I didn't really know her that well, but Clint did. She was the aunt of one of his childhood friends and she sort of took us under her wing when we first started attending Bethany Chapel - she was a very sweet, kind lady. Anyway, I guess she had cancer in the past that had gone into remission, but about a year and a half/2years ago - not too long after we decided to attend Bethany Chapel, she went in for hip surgery and has not been in church since. While there, she found out that the cancer was back and she had been laid up ever since. Every week, Pastor would give an update on MaryBeth and the deaconesses arranged for meals to be taken to her and Chuck. We were able to do about 3 meals for them, and the last time -right before Annie was born - the three of us were able to take the meal over there and say "Hi" to MaryBeth. Of course, Grace was all over their house, so it wasn't a long visit by any means, but I made a few observations then that are coming back to my mind now that we are making plans to attend the visitation and funeral this weekend.

The thing that made the biggest impression on me was Uncle Chuck. He seems a strong, silent type. I remember his eyes and how exhausted he looked, but how gentle he was. He didn't talk much, but you could see love in his eyes for his wife, exhaustion from the past year of taking care of her 24/7 and also a thankfulness at not having to prepare a meal that evening. Last Sunday (before MaryBeth passed away) Pastor gave us the update saying how MaryBeth was having really bad days, and then he said "We need to pray for Chuck - because it's really taking it's toll on him." Just that simple statement brought tears to both Clint's and my eyes.

The picture of a husband faithfully standing by his wife of so many years - tenderly caring for her, serving her, holding her when she is in pain, praying and crying over her - wishing that he could this time make it all go away and be her protector, yet unable and helpless to do anything - is such a beautiful portrait and testament of what marriage can be. These days marriages like this are few and far between - "tilldeathdouspart" is just a line people say, almost mumble, at the end of the marriage vows. Having to live out "till death do us part" with the idea that death is coming soon cannot be easy and the tendency in our society is just to bail when the tough gets going. "I just can't handle it - I'm done" or some other excuse to leave a tough situation.

Not Uncle Chuck - he was faithful to the end. My grandma was faithful to the end. March 14th my grandpa passed away after an agonizing 20 hours in surgery and recovery. They had been married 58 years - 8 years beyond golden. My grandma can hardly breathe now, without my grandpa. There is another couple in our church - in their mid-90's - the husband had a stroke not too long ago and one day after church (while he was still recovering) the wife began sobbing - I'm certain because she was scared. I can't imagine having someone at your side for 70+ years to one day look over and not have them be there.

These are the people who have truly lived and are living out that marriage vow in every way it was meant when it was written. And I am so thankful and grateful that I know, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that my husband will be the same way for me. He will take care of me if I get sick, he will cry with me when I am hurt, he will be by my side when we send Grace off to college, or when Annie gets married, he will send me another beautiful bouquet of roses if we have a third addition to our family and he will be there to laugh at all the stupid, clumsy things I do and put up with the random thoughts that come out of my mouth on a daily basis. I don't say it often enough, I don't know that I've ever said it, but Clint truly is my Prince Charming (as cheesy as it sounds and it does sound cheesy!) He loves me more than anything in this world.

I am his and he is mine - till death do us part.