In "it" for the long haul

Two people stand in front of their friends and family and vow that they are going to love and be committed to the other for the rest of their lives. They have no idea what the future has in store for them, but they promise to face whatever comes as a united front. They dream about what the future could have in store, make their promises, and march into the unknown hand in hand.

This weekend I looked over at the one I stood with over 30 years ago. He had our 21 year old son's legs draped across his lap as his head leaned against me on the other side. We were sitting in a theater watching Finding Dory, a movie made for preschoolers, as our son laughed LOUDLY (and not always at appropriate times) and made his happy noises (that often sound more like someone being brutally attacked than an outburst of delight).

We've grown accustomed to the uncomfortable stares as our 21 year old lays across us like a toddler and makes his unique sounds. The stress factor was in not knowing if the happy noises would suddenly turn into unhappy grunts and lead to aggressive behavior. We were on high alert to bolt for the exit door at any moment (with our son, not leaving him in the theater! Just being clear).

But the noises stayed happy, the stares didn't phase us, and we had a happy day. As I looked over at my faithful husband, loving on and truly delighting in our adult/toddler son, he winked at me. I was overcome with emotion. This was not the dream as we held hands and marched towards the future as 22 year old newlyweds. But thank God he meant what he promised when he said that we were in it together, whatever "it" turned out to be.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Great love could also be described as: "that someone lay down his dreams for his child" or "that someone lay down his comfort to walk a hard road with his wife" or "that someone lay down his pride and embrace a child with severe disabilities and behavioral challenges." , "that someone stay when most would go"...

Love will require you to lay down your life in one way or another. I have been blessed to see love up close and personal!

This journey with our son is not over and is as unpredictable as the day he was born. I am grateful for a partner who still holds my hand, looks at the unknown future, and says "We're in it together. Let's go!"