How sweet marriage can be…

A photo is going viral on the internet now of a husband whose wife is battling thyroid cancer pulling a chair and desk and sitting outside her sick room, since she has to remain isolated during treatment. According to Mackenna Newman, their daughter, Marci (her mom) was diagnosed with thyroid cancer (which spread to her lymph nodes and trachea) in October. But Jon (her dad) has been right by Marci’s side ever since. “Jon goes to every doctor’s appointment, every blood test, every surgery, every radiation,” Marci told BuzzFeed News. “And, as you can see, if he can’t be by my side he is as close as he can get!”

Just look at that picture? It melts your heart, does it not? The internet has become so hot; the photo has received over 100,000 likes! Why is this picture such a sensation?

Could it be that we feel their pain? We feel their hurt? We wish them well… Another truth is that such commitment is rare. I think all of the above is true.

So why is such commitment rare? Why are marriages not as resilient that we are able to fight through anything and everything? Why do marriages crumble at the first sight of a strain? Why will most not pull a desk and sit outside their spouse’s sick room? Why do we allow life to beat our promise down ‘till death do us part’? Why do we not fight for those words? Why do we not stand up and bear arms(please, not firearms!) for our marriages? Why do we not stomp our feet and wave our fist when our marriages are going through the ebb? Why do we roll over and let it go down the dumps? When cancer rages, pull a chair and comfort your spouse. When money is tight, tell each other it will be okay, work out a plan and be committed to it. When someone tries to flirt with you at work, look the other way. When you begin to feel that someone at work looks more handsome than your husband, then tell your mind to be checked; in fact remember that that thought could tear down what you hold dear. When someone pays you a continual compliment, to get to your affection – remind them of who you are – a happy wife; a happy other-half! And if not so happy – think of what you could do to bring some joy to your marriage. We must own our marriage, every part of it. And so must our spouse. (Note, our spouse must own it too!) One cannot do it alone. And if the other is not doing, then it is impossible to hold on to the marriage. It will be hard, unhealthy, unhappy, and unworkable. If both will own it, then you can make it better! Because it can be better! It can be stronger! It can be happier! It can be more joyful! It can be more sincere.

‘Till death do us part,’ is such a great promise. And if we could hold true to this promise, then regardless of the train wreck, you both will come out, maybe smoldering a little, but you both will come out together!
Let everyday be a ‘Happy Marriage day’ for you both! I hope so!

Praying for the Newman family!

Linda Faith
Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.