“Fairytale Love is Not Enough” by Tish Pouliot
My kids love old people.
When they were little, it was the highlight of their month to go visit the local nursing home and see the older people there. On their own initiative, they started saving all of their coloring pages so they could go by and pass them out as little gifts.
I know that senior centers are intimidating for many people, but amazingly this caution has never overcome my kids. I would love to tell you it is because they just oozed the love of Jesus, but I think it is more about the attention they received when they went.
Faith was told she was the prettiest girl they had ever seen and she could practice her singing skills receiving thunderous praise. Matt liked following his big sister and obsessively made sure no senior was left out as we passed out our pictures. He liked being told how smart he was and how sharp he looked.
One day, we were delivering valentines and stopped by the room of a man who had lost most of his speaking ability. He had large tumors covering his bald head and was obviously having a challenging time with his memory and motor skills.
As we entered the room, a sweet little old lady in a red Sunday suit greeted us. She was fixed up from head to toe with fresh makeup and her hair curled sweetly.
“Come right in here and see my valentine,” she said. “I came to visit my sweetie here on Valentine’s Day and brought him a cake. You know, we have been married for 70 years, and he is just as handsome as always.”
She went on to tell us how she had gotten too weak to care for him at her home any longer, but she comes by to visit him every day. “He still is my sweetheart,” she said as she stroked his disfigured head.
Later on, as I was thinking about the amazing love of this lady, I pulled my kids aside. “You know, real love is not about Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and all of those Disney fairytales. Real love is that sweet lady in the red suit. Did you see how she saw him as her prince even though he did not look like a prince any longer? That is the love that mommy wants to have for daddy and I want you guys to have for your husband and wife one day. That is how Jesus loves us.”
70 years of covenant love.
This is what has been lost in my generation.
This is the true definition of marriage.
This is the love that echoes the love of Christ for his church and shows the world a glimpse of heaven on earth.
My prayer is that in 54 years you will find me in a little red suit on Valentine’s Day with my sweetie, rolling off into the sunset on our white power scooters.
~ Written by Tish Pouliot ~
Tish is a homeschooling mom of two. On a normal week, you can find her hiking in Blevin’s Gap, trying a new recipe from the Pioneer Woman, or singing into her hairbrush. She grew up in Pensacola, FL, went to seminary in New Orleans, LA, and she now resides in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, with her husband, Brian, and their children.
One Comment
Oh this is beautiful! I love it! ❤️