The JOY Project: "For better for worse, in sickness and in health".

Thursday, February 12, 2015

"For better for worse, in sickness and in health".

August 1st, 1993.......We spoke these words...

"For better or for worse,

in sickness and in health"..

It makes me smile now. Oh how naive we were when we were young and spoke these words in our marriage ceremony. I look back now and giggle at how little we knew and how much we had to learn and experience together. We had nothing but hope then. We had love, passion, fun, romance, dreams and a sense of adventure.......all the things we desire to have when two people come together and begin their life. It seemed easy to say this common marriage phrase, "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health."

Little did we know.........

Fast forward almost 22 years later......

Now we get it, we truly get it. And I am sure we will continue to learn it. We have learned the meaning of "For better or worse, in sickness and in health" in many ways. 14 years ago, (wow, has it been that long?).... I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The first year we decided to walk in the MSWalk and were joined by family and friends to raise awareness and support. They gave out these little red bracelets that said "HOPE". Since that moment my sweet man has worn that bracelet. For 14 years he's never taken it off. He has worn it as a symbol to me of his commitment to hope for a cure together and choose hope every day as we navigate this challenge. It has always meant so much to me.

But recently even more so....

A little over a month ago he came to the rescue of two little girls whose dogs were in a violent dog fight. In the midst of it he was bit and it severed the nerve in his hand. That night in the emergency room when I finally got there to be with him he had a very sad, almost mad look on his face. I assumed it had to do with his hand. But then he smiled, and proceeded to tell me that he was angry because they made him take off the bracelet.

It stopped me in my tracks. And of course, made me cry. Right there with his own pain, bleeding and all, he still was choosing "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health". He was still being an example to me of choosing HOPE. I couldn't have loved him more in that moment.

Now it's been 6 weeks. He is still recovering and in a splint. And I am sure the question on your mind is "Is he wearing the bracelet?" Yes, you bet he is! My loving husband put it right back on. It is faded, stretched out, and a little chipped on the the top, and we can barely read the word "hope". But that is our reminder, he says. A reminder that life pulls us, stretches us, even breaks us a bit, but we can still choose hope. We choose hope together and we NEVER forget what it really means to live "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health". He takes care of me and I take care of him. It is our honor and privilege. And because of that daily choice, it just keeps getting better and better!