The Perfect Partner

Let us hold on to the hope we say we have and not be changed. We can trust God that He will do what He promised. (Hebrews 10:23)

I heard the most beautiful story on the radio yesterday. A couple in their nineties had been married for over seventy years. They were so enamored with each other that they became engaged after just twelve hours of courtship. They married and built a wonderful life around their love and that of their children. They never left each other's side. Recently, they were involved in a serious car accident. When the hospital called in the couple's son, he found his parents barely clinging to life. It was apparent that they would not survive, so the son had the couple placed in beds side-by-side in the same room. The couple held hands, and the man soon died. The hospital staff did not realize at first that he had passed, because his wife's pulse penetrated the skin on his hand and the monitor that had been attached to him. She died a short time later. In preparation for the burial, the son purchased a specially-made casket that allowed his parents to be buried together, side-by-side.

I'm not one to be overcome by emotion at the telling of such a story, but this one brought tears to my eyes. My husband and I have been a couple for nearly half our lives. It's hard to imagine life without him, and yet our longevity thus far pales in comparison to this couple. As tragic as the end of this couple's life was, it speaks a beautiful story of love and commitment, especially in an era where true commitment is hard to find. I can only hope that my husband and I will leave a similar legacy.

What got to me the most about this story, however, was not the lesson it teaches us about the commitment we have to each other, but rather the commitment we have to God. Human relationships are so important, but they are also so frail. They take a lot of work to keep them healthy and thriving, but sometimes our best efforts are not enough. We make a lot of promises to each other, whether it's on the altar, the death bed, or places in between. Sometimes we keep those promises, other times not.

Despite the imperfection of our human relationships, we can rest assured that God will always keep His promise to love us. He will never turn away from us if we accept Him as part of our lives. He will not forsake us on the altar, on our death beds, or any place in-between, if we invite Him into those places. A relationship with Jesus takes effort on our end, like any other relationship. But unlike ourselves, Jesus won't divorce us due to our imperfections. He is not interested in the fruitless pursuit of worldly perfection. He wants our love, our devotion, and our obedience to Him by faith. He wants us just as we are - imperfections and all.

In life and in death, I hope to always be holding my husband's hand. Regardless, my other hand is always free to hold onto the mighty hand of Jesus. His grip is warm, loving and tireless. He will pull me through whatever I encounter on earth, and ultimately, He will escort me to His very side in heaven. That's a promise I can count on, praise God.