Dedication or Stubborness . . .

My parents will celebrate 50 years of marriage in 21 days. I am so proud of them for making it to this milestone. As I type this my father has just had a quadruple bypass and is still in the hospital. He is doing great and will be out of the hospital in the next few days. Their road to this anniversary has not been easy, it has been filled with trials, tragedy, struggles. It has also been filled with love, family, fun. So how do some couples keep it together for so long and then there are the couples who don't make it. What quality do the couples who make it have? I have wondered that for years, as I have seen couples that I thought were "perfect" fall apart. Just recently in the news was a story of Al & Tipper Gore who are divorcing after 40 years. Really? How do you live with and love someone that long and then go your separate ways. My parents, as I look back at their marriage just since I have been able to observe, the qualities that I observe that keeps them together, dedication, loyalty, stubborness. I am not joking I think it takes a lot of stubborness to stick it out during the hard times. Both my parents are like rocks strengthwise, My mom has been so strong during daddy's health crisis, this is how she shows she loves him, she has not left his side in the week since he became ill. Daddy shows his concern for mom's safety and her comfort by wanting her to go home and rest but she is running the show right now. So I guess there are many qualities but as my parents get ready to celebrate a milestone that so many will not ever have a chance to get to, I hope and pray that hubby and I make it that far also, we are approaching our 15th anniversary so only 35 to go.