* I began reading a new book about marriage today, and one of the first lines I read was that "Love always does what is best for others and can empower us to face the greatest of problems". I felt like this statement really describes what we have witnessed through Uncle John's Story. The love Aunt Maureen has for Uncle John, as well as for God is truly what is allowing her to be so strong and get through this tough time. I hope we can all be inspired by this love story. It is only fitting that on this day, I share a letter written to all of you from Uncle John's one true love:
Happy Valentine’s Day!
It seems appropriate today for me to take the time to thank each of you for all of the love and support you have shown John, myself and our children over the past 11 days. We have truly been humbled and in awe of the outpouring of love and care we have experienced since John’s initial event on February 4th. To our family and friends …you have been nothing short of incredible. Anything my children and I have needed has been provided. God has clearly worked miracles through you as well as the doctors and nurses. I hope each of you know how much we appreciate all that you have done to make this journey easier for us. My heart is filled with gratitude to each of you for the love, support and especially your prayers. Thank you so very much.
My other purpose in writing today is to give John the only Valentine’s gift I can. I would like to take time to honor my best friend and the love of my life, John. We have been married for 26 years last September. In those 26 years we have faced many challenges. But in those 26 years, I have come to know and love this wonderful man even more than the day I married him. If you are reading this blog, you probably already know John is a great guy. What you may not know is why…John is a very private and humble man, so I will try to give you a glimpse of his simple, but profound goodness without embarrassing him. When I think of John …the verse “only goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of our life; I shall dwell in the house of the Lord” comes to mind. These words resonate to me who John is. He values God, his family, his friends, a good laugh, his beloved Maryland Terps, the Redskins, and a cold Miller Lite. On the deepest level he gets the fact that life itself is a gift from God, and what we do with it is our gift back to Him. That’s how he spent the last 60 years of his life. He has tried his personal best to love and care for each of those people God has placed in his life. He is a dedicated husband and father, brother, brother- in-law, cousin, uncle and friend. To him it is living his faith, honesty, hard work, integrity, laughter, enjoying moments, serving others, and loving with all your heart that mattered the most. The amazing thing about John is that he does these things daily by simply being who he was. He never looked for praise or complained about whatever challenges he might be facing, he just kept trying to make it better.
John would be the first to tell you, he is not perfect and neither am I…But what made our marriage work and our friendship grow was that we both understood our imperfection and knew that we have a third partner in our marriage. When one of us failed to give our best, God filled in the rest. John always told me that God has given us all crosses and He will help us carry them. We both believe that. Though we are facing one of the biggest crosses of our marriage, I know that in the deepest part of my heart that the Lord has spent 26 years teaching me how to love and care for John by the way he has love and cared for our children and me. I have been blessed by being married to this wonderful man. This will carry me through this difficult road ahead of us. Now it is my children’s and my turn to treat John with the love and kindness, and humor that he has shown us. John is undeniably my hero. I am forever grateful to the Lord that he is still with us and I will do my best to cherish this wonderful man daily for all the kindness and love he has given me for the past 26 ½ years. Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you John. Thank you again to all of our friends and family.
Maureen
Aunt maureen, Your letter was so beautiful! I can't wait for Uncle John to read it. As I think back to that night, the last thing I remember him saying was as his eyes looked at you with nothing but love and he said 'Oh my look at that hott....lady". I just remember smiling so hard because it was not something you expect to hear from Uncle John. I guess sometimes he just cant hold his love for you back. Happy I love you Day (this is what Hunter calls it).
ReplyDeleteMaureen - good to hear your amazing strength and courage. I have been thinking about you, John and your family everyday. Know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers. take care, Debbie Beins and family
ReplyDeleteDear Maureen and family, there has not been a day that you all have not had a prayer from all of us. We love you all and see Gods' love in the miracles that have occurred. The love and faith of your family has only helped our prayers grow stronger and belief that love and faith will keep our love alive.
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