Perseverance - Character - Hope - Encourage Your Spouse

Robert and I are looking forward to spending time with friends next week. They’re traveling a long distance and they’ll be staying with us for a week.

It’s not easy for them to travel.

My friend has been battling severe anxiety and depression for many years and as much as she’s looking forward to coming, this trip has been causing her a lot of anxiety. Her illness has changed the dimensions of their marriage – as all illnesses do.

Do you know what I admire about their relationship?

They’re not giving up – they persevere.

Every morning, my friend gets out of bed – even though she’d rather stay there.
She showers and gets dressed. This is hard because she feels no hope for the day.
She eats something healthy because her doctors have told her it’s good for her.
She takes her medication because she hopes – beyond hope – that today it will work.
She accepts new medication even when it causes severe side-effects.
She exercises because her doctors & counselors have told her exercise will help manage the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
She forces herself to participate in activities, that once-upon-a-time gave her joy.
When the anxiety and depression reach a level she can’t handle, she reaches out to call someone who loves her and can talk her through her despair.
She goes to bed every night praying tomorrow will be better.

Where is my friend’s husband? He stands beside her – as always.

He gets up every morning, praying that today can be a good day for his wife.
He goes to work every day so the family can have financial stability.
He’s an active participant in counseling and doctor visits.
He manages his wife’s medication because she’s not in a state of mind right now to administer them to herself.
He stands strong when she pleads for more medication, because he knows exactly how much the doctors have prescribed.
He keeps himself healthy by participating in activities to bring him joy.
He continues to hope for a future where he can have his wife and friend healthy again.
He loves his wife.

They both don’t give up. They continue with solid steadiness.

Perseverance is an internal thing – a kind of unspoken decision.

Have you or your spouse battled an illness – a prolonged illness where there is nothing else to do but carry on?

Even though perseverance is an internal decision, it will resonate with your spouse. And those who view your relationship will see your commitment to persevere.