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我妻子29岁时，对我说她的膝盖失去知觉，那时我们二人都没有太担心这件事。我们实在是太无知了：这就是一条艰难旅程的开始，那种麻木的感觉是多发性硬化症的病征。当她的症状变得越来越加剧时，我们才意识到这是一个严重的问题。上楼梯时，她需要扶着别人的手臂；她眼睛有复视的毛病；她又越来越没有力气。随着年日的增长，她就丧失得更多，她说：“我是在逐个小时地接近死亡。”她伤痛的自白真是相当贴切。

如果说我们一直在挣扎，丝毫没有言过其词。我妻子在挣扎，我们一家在挣扎，我也在挣扎。而我也不是常常能够履行我的承诺，尽本份做一个有爱心和体贴她的丈夫。

某天黄昏，我们在敬老院——那个她已住了八年的“家”聊天时，我知道我必须把这个令我不安的事实告诉她。为什么在这个时候说呢？我不知道，然而我深信是神的灵在作工。于是我对她说：“Thelma，有时我没有好好待你，太多时候我没有耐性、不够和善和没有爱心了。我非常抱歉。”

她的回应令我非常惊讶：“可我的记忆中从没有这样的事。”她不但宽恕了我，她更不记在心里！何等仁厚、慈爱、亲切、宽大，还有医治。她依照耶稣的吩咐，从心底里饶恕我。我感谢她，我也感谢神。

With considerable personal dis­comfort, I share today's thoughts with you.

At the age of 29, my wife mentioned that her knees felt numb. Neither of us was greatly concerned. But we were naive: that was the beginning of a very challenging journey. The numbness was a symptom of multiple sclerosis. As her symptoms became more troublesome, we knew there was a serious problem. She needed an arm to lean on when climbing stairs; her vision doubled; her stamina decreased. As the years became decades of loss, her description was sadly apt: "I am dying by inches."

To say that we struggled is an understatement. My wife did, our family did, I did. And I wasn't always the loving and caring husband I should have been and had promised to be.

One evening, as we were visiting in the nursing home that was her "home" for eight years, I knew I had to speak about this uncomfortable truth with her. Why on that evening? I don't know, but I'm convinced God's Spirit was at work. So I said, "Thelma, there were times I didn't treat you well. I was impatient, unkind, and unloving far too often. I am very sorry."

Her response amazed me: "I don't remember that." She had not only forgiven; she had forgotten! How gracious, loving, kind, and generous! And healing. She forgave as Jesus calls us to—from the heart. I thank her, and I thank God.