Love does NOT look like a Fairy Tale

A little over a month ago the whole world looked on as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became husband and wife.  So many people were engrossed with watching the wedding and all the the "Pomp and Circumstance".  What does "Loving for a Lifetime" look like? I will give you just a small picture of what they do not show you in the "Fairytales".  Sixty One years ago two 18 year teens who just graduated from high school, vowed before God and their family and friends to "Love for a Lifetime".  Although I was not at the wedding I know it was not a "Pinterest" wedding.  These two ordinary people made a commitment to each other.  There was no romantic Hawaiian or Caribbean Honeymoon.  After the wedding they moved into a basement apartment of my dad's parents.  Ten and a half months after their wedding they welcomed the first of their 15 children into their family.  Their first seven children were born in an eight and a half year span. Money was tight, and the workload was great in order to raise their growing family.  My dad took on a second job to pay the bills.  Life has had more then its share of challenges.  One of my brothers almost drowned as he was found face down floating in the pool.  Another brother had a terrible football injury in peewee football and almost died from a ruptured kidney.  My mother had a stroke in her early 40's and had to learn to walk and worked hard to try to rebuild her strength in order to take care of the family.  There have been MANY more challenges during their marriage and at age 56 my mother was diagnosed with Parkinsons.  That was 23 years ago.  This ugly disease has taken its toll on my mother and my dad has been her faithful care giver.  In a world where people struggle to serve and love when it becomes inconvenient or when their needs are not being met, it is a true "Yea God" story to see what "Loving for a Lifetime" is all about.  Loving for a lifetime has meant sleep deprivation as my dad cares for my mother.  Loving for a lifetime means helping your wife get dressed in the morning, helping your wife in the bathroom, helping feed your wife and care for her every need.  Loving for a Life time is there when your wife might not remember you or where she is.  There is no camera crew showing up to televise what 61 years of marriage looks like.  There is NO Fairy Tale here, or at least not what Hollywood would consider "Happily Ever After".  It is just two ordinary people committed to each other and with God's power and strength making choices to "Love for a Lifetime".  Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.  Thanks for the testimony you are of "Loving for a Life Time"!