Another story from one of the retreats I have attended in the past.
They were the perfect couple. John was the captain of the basketball team, the leader of the debate team and first honorable mention in their class. His loving wife Jane was the class valedictorian, the cheerleading team captain, and class president. The two were highschool sweethearts which made them the best bet for prom king and queen. Not to mention that the two can easily make it to the cover of any magazine because of their good looks.
After college they had decided to tie the knot. The couple had decided to have their honeymoon in a rocky mountain forest retreat. Away from the comforts of modern living, this gave them the chance to look back at how perfect their lives were and think about their journey towards the future.
One day John went out to look for wood for cooking, while Jane was preparing their afternoon lunch. Half an hour passed when Jane heard the horrific screams of her hubby. Running towards the direction of the screams, she could also hear the menacing growls of a bear alternating the painful wails. And then a gunshot, followed by silence. In the distance she could already see John’s bloodied body the huge rotund body of the dead bear. She could feel her legs stiffen, at every step she took towards John. Jane could not stop the tears flowing from her eyes.
It was a miracle that John survived such a vicious attack. Laying in his hospital bed, bandaged and all, he was staring at the white ceiling trying to listen in on the conversation of Jane and the doctor. He could hardly make out what they were saying, but some phrases did jump out such as “forty-six stiches”, “facial reconstruction is not an option”, “ needs therapy on the use of his right hands”, “here is a good psychologist he can”. John’s eyes began to water as he felt an uneasy feeling inside.
Hearing that Jane had bid the doctor goodbye, John wiped his tears and straightened himself up ready to discuss things with her. As Jane sat down on the chair beside the bed, John started. “I would be a burden to us, I know that I would need therapy for my hand, and I know that I would not be the same person you married. I don’t think plastic surgery can fix me, and I don’t think it would even be worth it for me to go that route. Jane believe me when I tell you this. We are a newly wed couple and we are still young. I would understand if you decide to leave me right now and find someone who ….” Before John could finish what he was saying, Jane pushed her finger towards John’s lips to hush him, and then kissed him intimately. John could feel the the tears drop from Jane’s cheeks. And then Jane faced John and told him. “My dear, please know this, I do not love you because of, but I love you in spite of.”
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get–only with what you are expecting to give–which is everything.”
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