Today's promise: God pursues us with his
love
How should a husband
love his wife?
You husbands must love
your wives with the same love Christ showed the church.
Ephesians 5:25 NLT
In sickness and in health
Robertson McQuilken was
president of Columbia Bible College and Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina.
His wife, Muriel, was not only a devoted wife and mother, but also a painter,
speaker, hostess for the college, fabulous cook, and host of her own radio program.
Then Muriel was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Initially, the college board
arranged for care, but then McQuilken decided to take early retirement to care
for his wife.
In spite of her
deterioration, McQuilken stood by her and continued to love her deeply.
Eventually she rarely did more than mumble "nonwords." He wondered if
he would ever hear her sweet voice again. Then came February 14, 1995.
McQuilken writes:
Valentine's Day was
always special at our house because that was the day in 1948 that Muriel
accepted my marriage proposal. On the eve of Valentine's Day in 1995…I bathed
Muriel on her bed, kissed her good night…and whispered a prayer over her,
"Dear Jesus, you love sweet Muriel more than I, so please keep my beloved
through the night; may she hear the angel choirs…"
The next morning while
Muriel slowly emerged from sleep, I dipped into memories of some of the happy
Lover's Days long gone. Finally she popped awake and, as she often did, smiled
at me. Then, for the first time in months, she spoke, calling out to me in a
voice clear as a crystal chime, "Love… love… love…" I ran to embrace
her. "Honey, you really do love me, don't you?" Holding me with her
eyes and patting my back, she responded with the only words she could find to
express agreement. "I'm nice," she said.
Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E.
Michael and Sharon Rusten, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), pp 90-91
Content is derived
from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale
Publishing House
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