What happens when...

My mom is a stroke survivor. She lived through two strokes which left her incapacitated, unable to walk, talk, care of herself, and fed through a tube. My dad cares for her. She's not in a nursing home, she doesn't have a nurse, she has my dad. My sisters and I help, when he lets us and allows himself a break. I doubt when he and mom married they thought this is what their retirement would look like. Yet, here they are, in an inconvenient, uncomfortable, difficult, and unexpected situation. I wouldn't wish this on any couple. My dad won't leave her to anyone else to care for. "In sickness and in health" weren't just words to him. They were, and continue to be his vow, his promise, his truth to mom. He doesn't complain, he doesn't play the victim, he celebrates mom's life and is committed to ensuring her comfort and happiness. He is selfless, stubborn, constant, trustworthy, committed. He is my example.

So what happens when the unexpected occurs? What happens when the happily ever after looks different than what you dreamed of?

I pray, hope, challenge each reader to consider when dating and then believing someone is your "one" to ask yourself, if the above happened to you would they stay or would they go? Would they resent you? Would they feel cheated out of their happily ever after? Would you, if the roles were reversed?

We will age, the unexpected may occur, illness may be in our futures. When choosing, choose wisely, prayerfully, take your time, make sure the vows you hope to hear one day do not end up being empty words.

I hope that if you're seeking love (which if you're reading this, you probably are), that you may come to know and experience the kind of love I have been privileged to be a part of and product of. The kind that mere words can't explain but when you see it, as I see it each time I look at mom and dad, there is no doubt that it is real and worth waiting for.