Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Love

Zak and Jeremiah

These guys look they are having fun, don't they? Jeremiah is a former farmer from Enid, Oklahoma. He is a great guy, but not the subject of this post. I want to tell you about Zak. This guy is 24 years old and amazes me all the time with his wisdom. He is just a truly neat person. The kind of guy any mom would be proud her kid turned out to be.

I have only known Zak for a few years, but I have known his wife Kara for many years. She is 22 now, but I have known her since she was a kid. We went to the same church years ago. She is a really neat person as well. She was diagnosed with very debilitating Rhuematiod arthritis at the age of 16. Her life became very compromised at that time. She could no longer play percussion or dance - her two biggest passions in life. By the age of 19 she looked like a little old lady. She walked very slowly, kinda hunched over and was in severe pain most of the time. It was so heartbreaking to watch her go from the vibrant, smiling girl we knew to this other person.

Kara and Zak met and fell in love. Regardless of the fact that Zak was told that Kara would probably be in a wheelchair and he would be her full time care giver by the time they were in their 30's he wanted to marry her anyway. He didn't care, he loved her more than any fear about the future. He was willing to do whatever he needed to, she was the love of his life.

Well, God has restored Kara to health. Today she rides her bike first thing in the morning and is slowly getting off all of her prescriptions. She and Zak play and laugh together and are just enjoying life!! When you look at her today you would never know where she was just a few short years ago. She says she feels like her age instead of old for the first time in many years. I am so happy for them, but whenever I think of the lifetime sacrifice Zak was willing to make without even questioning it, my admiration for him just grows even more. Such a beautiful picture of love.

5 comments:

Friar Tuck said...

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful testament to love - I don't think many people would be that selfless.

Jen said...

Wow! This is a great. Zak sounds like the kind of guy every girl dreams of.
Praise God for his healing powers!

reliv4life said...

friar - you are welcome, but what for?

Citizen - yes, you are right. I am impressed with him, not just in this area, but many more - he is truly and unique guy! His wife Kara is pretty awesome as well. I feel honored to have them in my life!

Jen - Yes to it all!! God is pretty darn amazing!!

Shelley said...

Zak is inspirational - and a great example for True Love.