Full Circle
This weekend Macy and I were lucky enough to borrow Mom’s van, pick up my sister and her son Jake, and make a quick road trip to Omaha to celebrate my brother-in-law’s engagement. He had engineered a sweet day that culminated in an after-party of sorts in the fabulous downtown area.
It was a 5-6 hour trip one way, but the kids entertained each other and Serenity and I chatted. There’s rarely enough time for that – as my other sister, Charity, describes well in her Mundane Monday post this week here. Sister time as a bonus, it was a gift to be able to show my support for the newly engaged couple in a tangible way, even if it has cost me some sleep and some work time.
What is more important than celebrating the commitment of two people I love to each other? I’m a big fan of marriage. I think it is quite possibly one of the most beautiful and mysterious sacraments in our modern world. Two people who come from different families, different schools, and different genders realize that despite what it might cost them, they desire full-time, full-hearted, signed by the government and blessed by the Church kind of commitment. I like it.
Still fighting some of the travel fatigue this afternoon (hey- give me a break; I’m not 20 anymore!), my uncle stopped by my office and gave me the search terms for a YouTube video he wanted me to see. It was the perfect full-circle moment to my weekend adventure. The video is a production of a speech made under these circumstances:
After his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Columbia Bible College and Seminary President Robertson McQuilkin found himself torn between two commitments, two divine callings.
Whoa. That’s beautiful.
That is beautiful. Made me cry.
Me too, Kathie! The first, second, and third times I watched it! : )
WOW! I’ve read the book he wrote about this, A PROMISE KEPT, but I love hearing the tenderness in his voice as he talks about her. Thanks for posting this.
Well, as you can imagine, I’d love to read that now! : )
He also has several articles on Christianity Today website, most of them related to this issue. This one is especially sweet: http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/februaryweb-only/2-9-12.0.html
You are such an encouragement, and I love your perspectives! You seem to so eloquently put into words my shared perspectives. Love you!
My mom had Alzheimer’s and my dad cared for her until the very end. This brought tears to my eyes because the love in this man’s voice reflected the love my dad had for my mom. Thank you for sharing this.
And what an awesome thing that God has brought another wonderful daughter into the White family!!
Love you all!
This was so touching. Thank you for sharing. My Mom and Dad didn’t have the easiest life together. But in the end, when Mom was in the nursing home, and Dad had already passed on, Mom said every day “Dad is going to come pick me up today”. It’s so hard to watch that.
Love this.
This post and this video make me want to be a better person for the man I love. Good work.
Thanks so much Felicity… watching that video very much reminded me of another dear elderly couple we know and love in this community.
And yes, Kathy, a great challenge to want to give my husband all the more than forty years to see him accomplish what God has asked of him (and thus us).
What a beautiful tribute to the love that can be found in marriage! Yes, it made me cry too. Thanks for this post Felicity! This kind of love between husband and wife is very precious indeed!
Wow.