“No one should separate a couple that God joined together.” ~ Mark
19:9
Bruce held his wife’s hand and uttered
words no spouse wants to hear: “I want a divorce.” Not outwardly annoyed by this, she simply asked,
“Why?”
“I’m in love with someone else,” he said with a deep sense
of guilt as warm tears poured from her eyes.
She stumbled to the guest room and sobbed.
The next morning Jayne presented two divorce conditions: she
wanted a month's notice before filing during which time they’d continue to live
normally. She wasn’t ready to burden young
Jason with their wrecked marriage.
And one thing more.
Recalling how Bruce had carried her into the bridal suite on their
wedding night, she asked that he do it again . . . every day for a month.
An odd request, thought Bruce. But he accepted and clumsily carried Jayne
from the bedroom to the front door. Their
son Jason clapped at the noble gesture. Bruce
put her down gently and without speaking, drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both seemed more relaxed. Bruce realized that he hadn't looked at his
wife carefully for a long time. She
wasn’t young anymore; marriage had taken its toll and he wondered how much was
his fault.
As time marched on, Bruce felt a sense of intimacy
returning. This woman, who’d given ten
years of her life to him, suddenly became easier to carry.
One morning, he found her fretting about what to wear. None of her dresses fit anymore; she’d been
losing weight dramatically. Subconsciously,
he reached out and caressed her hair just as Jason walked in. “Dad,” he said, It's time to carry mom now. Seeing his Dad carrying his Mom had become an
essential part of the young boy’s life.
So he lifted Jayne, her arms wrapping around his neck fondly
and naturally - just like on their wedding day . . . when he’d promised to love
her until death parted them.
At a floral shop on the way to work, Bruce bought a stunning
flower bouquet. On the card he wrote,
“Jayne, I'll carry you forever!”
He returned home and with flowers in hand, raced up the
stairs. Jayne lay motionless on the bed.
Cancer had been eating away at her for months. Today it dealt its final blow. Knowing the end was near, she’d wanted to
save Bruce from any negative reaction from their son. At least in Jason’s eyes, Bruce was a loving
husband.
Over the course of time, many marriages dissolve into the
humdrum of routine. Couples grow apart
as work schedules, family commitments, and financial concerns transform what
were loving relationships into little more than business arrangements. Find time to be your spouse’s friend and do
those little things for each other that build intimacy.
Lord, the small details of our lives are what
really matter in relationships - not the property, the money, or the
achievements. Help me find time to be my
spouse's friend and do those little things that create greater intimacy. Amen
