I walked behind them as I captured this picture. The young couple looked to be in their early twenties. The phrase “in sickness and in health,” came to my mind.
His wife was frail and she was wearing a hospital gown. She held onto a wheelchair for support as she slowly took weak steps. The young lady wore pink, fuzzy, polka dot socks and had her strawberry blonde hair up in a ponytail.
Her husband pushed her medical equipment, and stood close to his wife in case she needed support.
My eyes grew teary at the sight of the young couple.
…in sickness and in health.
Two years ago, I watched this wife, just twenty at the time, walk down the aisle towards her husband, and exchange their wedding vows.
“…in sickness and in health.”
The bride was already ill; she had stage four cancer. But she had captured the young man’s heart, and he knew he didn’t want to live life without her.
She had brought joy back into this young man’s life. This woman had loved him unconditionally, and had made him feel as though he was the most important person in her life.
Over the past two years, they’ve had their ups and downs; lots of hospital visits, sick nights, days filled with pain, near-death experiences, losing a dear friend to cancer, having a beautiful niece, and joyous moments of knowing they had more time.
The couple grew up in the past two years and it seemed as though they matured ten years in two.
My son gave me a daughter two years ago, when he married Jazmin. Little did our family now, that she would become so much a part of us, that she would feel like she was our own.
We have felt honored to have Jazmin in our life; that God has allowed us to be part of her battle and journey with cancer. To be able to help care for her has been a blessing.
*Read about all the ways Jazmin has blessed our family; The Joys of Having Jazmin.
But the most beautiful part of this story has been watching Jazmin and Eythan fall in love.
…in sickness and in health.
Some see Eythan as an amazing young man to have “stuck it out” with Jazmin. And he is amazing! Eythan is amazing because he loves his wife, and wants her to be with him forever.
We see a groom in love with his bride.
True love isn’t fleeting, or conditional, or based on perfect circumstances. It’s not, “I will stay if you are healthy, but leave if you are ill.”
Love is devoting yourself to someone through life’s fiercest battles and most devastating circumstances.
Marriage was meant to display the beautiful love God has for his bride, the church:
Unconditional, unwavering, fully-devoted, “I’m all-in for the long-haul,” I will never leave you or forsake you, I will shelter you, protect you, believe in you, and be here until death parts us.
…in sickness and in health.
Jazmin is the woman who has loved Eythan unconditionally from the first day she married him. She has been the most devoted and caring wife. We couldn’t have dreamed of a girl more perfect for our son. If the tables had been turned, we know she would have been by Eythan’s side, if he had been ill.
Yesterday they celebrated two years of marriage.
We never thought this was possible the day we watched Jazmin and Eythan exchange their marriage vows. Even her doctors didn’t believe Jazmin would live this long.
But God has turned back the clock; a few more second, days, maybe weeks or months. And hopefully another year.
We have realized God is the one who grants a husband and wife extra years together.
He gave Eythan and Jazmin two years of marriage so far.
A beautiful gift.
Two years of marriage.
…in sickness and in health.
Happy 2nd Anniversary, Eythan and Jazmin!
Beautifully written. I read it through tears but with a sense of joy. Hopefully the Lord will bless your son and all of you with more years with your daughter-in-law.
Thank you, Debbie! We are trusting in God’s timing for Jazmin’s life, but we pray every day, for more time💗