Til Death Do Us Part

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do us part: the traditional wedding vows. We can all recite them on cue. The words seem to be perfect for the occasion, but they are more than just nice poetic words. While standing before our friends, family, and God, we are making a commitment to be there with and for each other in every situation. Sometimes we forget that love is not defined by our feelings but by our actions. Life is guaranteed to be hard. Being married to a firefighter usually makes life harder.

I recently got to visit one of our retirees in the hospital just before he headed to home hospice. His frail body was hanging on by a thin thread as cancer was ravaging his body. His wife of 40+ years was right by his side holding his hand as she had done for the last year and a half. In their decades of marriage they've seen all of the highs and lows that come with being a Houston Firefighter, raising children, aging, and fighting a terrible disease. No matter what life gave them, they faced it together.

He spoke of how she had always been by his side offering her love and support. She told of how he always took care of her and was a good man. I watched as he ordered them lunch, taking time to read her the menu because her vision is failing. They both shared how their faith had everything to do with them still being together because they choose to honor God above themselves. I'm amazed at how, while in pain and dying, he managed to downsize their home, get them moved, and pay all of her bills for the next year knowing he wouldn't be around. He is still loving his wife even after his death. That my friends, is love. Beautiful. Beautiful. Love.

I'm certain that neither of them were perfect. I don't doubt that they had their fair share of fights and arguments. Through it all, they chose to hold their wedding vows sacred. Cancer didn't stop her from loving him, and death couldn't stop him from loving her.

-Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain