After close to 40 years of marriage, Bill started to realize that something was wrong with his wife, Glad. She was soon thereafter diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Her condition has advanced to the point where Bill has to do everything for his wife. He bathes her, he feeds her, he brushes her teeth... but he does it all with a smile.
I count it a great privilege to care for this woman that I've loved for all these years and continue to love.
I've seen similar situations in my own life of this kind of selfless love. My grandfather currently cares for my grandmother's physical needs in a similar way to the way Bill cares for Glad.
I've seen first-hand that it's not always easy to constantly care for someone else's needs. It's not always convenient or fun to wipe someone's butt, or drive them to all of their doctor appointments.
And yet, there are people out there who do it. Every day. And without complaint.
She's done so much for me over all of these years. Now she can't, but I can. And I can return her love. And it's a love that, well, to me, means I can do everything for her. She's my princess, and I'm her William. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
I haven't experienced that kind of love for someone in my lifetime. I don't know what it feels like. I don't know where it comes from. I don't know if I'll ever know.
Bust stories like Bill and Glad's, or that of my Grandparents give me hope that one day I might get a glimpse of that selflessness, and feel the kind of love that allows one to serve without expectation of reward, or be served without feeling of indebtedness.
If you have a story, or insights into love of this magnitude, I'd love to learn more about it. Please drop me a line, or shoot me a Tweet, or hit me up on the Facebooks.