Have you ever told someone "I love you" (and your mom doesn't count)? If not, hopefully one day you will. Whether you think of true love toward someone of the opposite sex or true love in the way God feels toward you, the following story is a powerful example of what it is really all about.

His...Daryl Miller

The most powerful part of Peggy and John's story is that it's TRUE.

Peggy & John live in southern Louisiana & have been married for 16 years. When I met them, they were living in a very small house in a "not so nice" part of town.

After knocking on the door & after being told to come in, here is what I saw. The door almost hit the hospital bed located in the living room when I opened it. Two people were in the room: Peggy was in the bed & her mother was standing beside her.

I must admit that I wasn't ready for what I saw. Peggy's mother gave me the history that led up to what I encountered. When Peggy & John had gotten married, both were full of life, very attractive & very much in love. Unlike most others, they both took their vows seriously.

Peggy began to experience physical problems shortly after their wedding. By their first anniversary Peggy was already using crutches, by their second she was in a wheelchair & by their third she was a "mental vegetable" confined permanently to bed. (Peggy has been in this condition for almost 13 years).

Her mother continued to explain how that Peggy' sickness (multiple sclerosis & other neurological disorders) had twisted her beautiful 5'6" body into a 70-pound nightmare. Peggy could not control her own urinary tract nor her bowel movements. She was also so nauseous that vomiting was a regular part of life. This was my introduction to Peggy.

About that time a car drove up to the house & John walked in the door. The room was so little that he almost had to step on me when he walked over to Peggy's bed. Without a word to anyone else, John said, "Hi, honey," & walked over to her bed. He calmly fluffed her pillow, straightened her arms & legs (as much as possible), kissed her on the cheek & spent about three or four minutes summarizing his day's activities. Peggy was not aware of anything or anyone. Then John turned to me & said, "I wasn't trying to ignore you, but my wife comes first."

Shortly after we started talking Peggy began vomiting. She had done so twice before John could turn her on her side. By the time he could get her special medicine down her, Peggy had vomited several more times. Without hardly getting aroused, John asked me to sit down & we resumed our talk while he cleaned up Peggy, hergown & the sheets. He told me that these were normal occurrences & that I shouldn't feel badly for him or Peggy.

He said, "I know that Peggy would be doing the same for me if our roles were reversed." He went on to explain that cleaning Peggy & the bed were routine tasks. (Remember, Peggy vomited often & couldn't control her bowel movements.) What commitment, dedication & love!

Over the next few weeks I got to know Peggy & John even better. John was very open & willing to answer any questions. When I asked him why he had stayed with Peggy, he told me, "I told Peggy that I would stay with her until one of us died. I didn't tell her I'd stay only as long as she looked pretty, or could satisfy all my sexual needs. Besides, when you really love somebody, you don't want anyone else."

Even Peggy's mother wouldn't have blamed John if he had left her. John's commitment was too deep for that. Not only is John still taking care of Peggy, but he has been faithful to her for more than 16 years, 13 of which has seen on sexual contact between Peggy & John.

One of the best parts of the story happened about two years ago. While dating, Peggy & John used to take drives & talk about their future together. Peggy even had a favorite section of the town in which she hoped they could live some day. With a great deal of youthful zeal John promised, "Peggy, I'll build you a house there someday." Two years ago John completed Peggy's dream house in the part of town where she always wanted to live.

If you were to enter their beautiful new house, do you know what you would still see in the living room. That's right, Peggy still lives in her hospital bed in the main room of the house. I asked John once why he didn't put Peggy in one of the back bedrooms. His answer still caused "goose bumps" to cover my neck. "Mike, my wife comes first in my life. IF someone can't stomach her as she is, I didn't want anything to do with them." THAT'S LOVE!

The next time you are tempted to tell someone that you love them, remember this story of Peggy & John. If you don't mean "Peggy & John love," do everyone a favor & be silent.

The next time someone tells you that they love you, tell them in detail (vomit, cleaning, no sexual relations, etc.) the story of Peggy & John. Then ask them if that's what they mean. If it's not, ask them to politely keep that word out of the conversation. When someone asks me how to know what love between a boy & girl is, I simply point to Peggy & John. If all Christians would simply be that committed to their marriages, divorce would almost be non-existent.

What's love you ask? "Peggy & John love" is what love is.