For My Husband

Myasthenia gravis is not degenerative, per se, nor is it in and of itself terminal. It IS, however, challenging, can be, at times, life threatening. Sometimes I can't hold my son. Sometimes I can barely make it up the stairs, and Doug has to be right behind me in case I fall. He has been my earthly rock. He has not ONCE complained about my disease or what it has done to me. This story reminded me of his love for me, and I want the whole world to see it.

It's from Dennis Rainey.

For Better, for Worse

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.Philippians 2:4

I've been doing daily radio since 1992, and I can recall only one time when I was weeping so hard I couldn't speak. It was the day I interviewed Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyr.

At the age of 30, Charlie began experiencing the early symptoms of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. A successful high-school football coach, he was given one to three years to live.

Even now as I reflect on our time with them in the studio -- with Lucy reading his lips and speaking for him -- the emotion is profound. They recalled a day when Charlie, his care becoming more and more demanding on his wife and children, whispered to Lucy, "Maybe it would be better if I just died."

Lucy took a deep breath, asked the Lord for just the right words, and said to Charlie, "We'd rather have you like this than not at all."

Having him "like this" has meant more than two decades of continual life support. It takes Lucy three hours to get him ready each day!

Lucy is a model of what we promised to each other in our wedding vows. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse. Keeping our covenant means more than avoiding divorce -- it means we'll be there, living out our love, no matter what.

Don't wait until you get in a dramatic situation where you're facing something like Lucy and Charlie before you cement your promise to care for one another through any circumstance. If you don't prepare for it today by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your life and clinging to God's blueprints, you'll be unprepared when -- not if -- your crisis comes.

I love you baby. You have been my rock. Thank you for loving me just as I am.