Perhaps it's the arrival of our most romantic holiday, Valentine's Day, that has me in a sentimental mood lately, but I have witnessed two stunning examples of love and commitment recently that brought me to tears and had me re-evaluating my own love life.
The two stories are quite similar; one story was of a young man featured on the hit TV show "American Idol" while the other story is of a young lady right here in Weyburn.
Both individuals are young and in love. They are engaged to be married to their sweethearts but tragedy struck before either couple could wed.
Both couples had their young lives devastated by car crashes. The American's fiancé suffered extreme brain damage as a result of her accident, while the local girl's fiancé ended up paralyzed.
For some, dealing with this type of tragedy would have destroyed these budding partnerships before they truly began. But these couples stood strong and were steadfast in their commitments to each other, despite the fact that they have yet to take that "big leap" together.
These couples have both vowed to continue their wedding plans despite their unfortunate setbacks. Both couples will begin their lives together as many couples end up after a lifetime together, with one caring for the other, choosing to love each other in sickness and in health before taking their vows.
I cannot help but admire this kind of commitment. It is refreshing to witness such a strong bond between two people. Many marriages can't survive one spouse losing their job let alone losing their abilities or faculties.
Quite often, people enter a relationship with many preconceived notions about the roles that the man and woman should play. These couples will likely be forced to drop these notions and make their own "rules" to married life.
As for myself, I hope to use these couples' stories to understand my own feelings and preconceived notions of the roles that husbands and wives should play. Instead of getting angry when my fiancé doesn't take out the trash or shovel the snow, perhaps I should ponder why I feel these are specifically his jobs and what it would mean if he could no longer do the heavy lifting and other things I expect of him.
Our gender doesn't have to determine our roles in a relationship. Marriage is a partnership and requires both give and take from each individual. As long as the basic needs are being met, such as love, respect, understanding and support, the rest will fall into place.
