A Love Story

by Lloyd Robertson

The other day I saw a short Twitter thread and thought it worth sharing.

Yesterday an elderly man called the church office. He needed someone to pray for his wife who is in the hospital with "the virus."

I asked him her name and after a long pause he said, "I'm sorry, I can't remember it. We've been married for 71 years." 1/

— Adam Morris (@adamwm89) September 9, 2021

I prayed for the two of them, for her healing, and for her team of medical professionals who are taking care of her.

Afterwards, he thanked me and then told me he had remembered her name and shared it with me.

I told him that I would continue to pray for them both by name. 2/

— Adam Morris (@adamwm89) September 9, 2021

It has been hard not to be emotional when thinking about this stranger and his wife.

71 years ago, they made vows to each other, among which I assume was the promise to love one another in sickness and in health.

As this man's memory fades, he holds onto that promise. 3/

— Adam Morris (@adamwm89) September 9, 2021

As his own health deteriorates, his concern is for his wife whose name he may or may not remember each moment.

What an example of love.

Please pray for Mr. D and his beloved wife, Ms. Rae.

And if you are married, love, honor, and cherish your spouse like Mr. D does for Rae. /4

— Adam Morris (@adamwm89) September 9, 2021

A story of steadfast love.

Lifelong faithfulness proclaims the gospel. In the garden, God said “It is not good for man to be alone.” This is about more than the creation of a companion for Adam. As Peter Leithart puts it, “The great mystery is that God created man male and female, a differentiated unity and a unified differentiation, as a living sign of his covenant bond with his people.”

This sweet story points to God’s commitment to us. We have a God who loves one Bride. He loved her because he loved her, chose her before the foundation of the world and undertook to do all that is necessary in order to bring us to Himself because it is “not good” for us to be alone.

The sweetest marriage is only momentary. But it points to our marriage to a faithful suitor from whom we will never be separated.