You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family, and most of us are perfectly aware that family relationships can be tough at times.
It is a common belief that out of all the relationships between members of a family, the one between the son-in-law and the mother-in-law is often the most tenuous one, so it makes it hard for many women to just sit and watch the war unfolding between the people they love; their husband and mother.
A man named Scott and his mother-in-law, Sharon, didn’t get along. He thought she was not minding her own business and she believed her daughter could choose better. The two, however, didn’t show any hostility towards each other all for the sake of the happiness of the woman whom they both loved unconditionally.
However, an unpleasant event changed the relationship between these two forever and Scott is now trying to teach everyone a lesson of acceptance.
Namely, his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and she needed help around the clock. With Scott having to work and provide for the medical bills, it was Sharon who took care of her daughter. In order to do so, she and her husband, who was a war veteran, moved in with Scott and his wife.
What Scott saw in Sharon during the two years she lived with them was a strong woman who was there for everyone despite the hardship and the personal struggles she was facing.
This is what Scott wrote of his mother-in-law:
“This is Sharon.
“I learned from her that it’s crucial to accept people for who they are, not for what you want them to be.
“My mother-in-law made it difficult for me to understand her when I first met her. She appeared to be behaving rudely demanding and aggressively. But I welcomed her into my family because I understood how much she meant to the love of my life. I still had no idea who she was after 7 years.
“When my ex-wife was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 30, with just a 10% chance of survival, when our world was wrecked and changed forever, Sharon calmly and firmly assumed the position for which she was born. She relocated to our home with her husband, who had sustained an injury during the Vietnam War, to work as my wife’s nurse. She transported both of the family’s patients to the more than 300 doctors they required, handled hundreds of prescriptions, performed the majority of our shopping over the course of two years, prepared all of our meals, washed all of our clothing, cleaned us, and made sure we were all okay at all times. And she did this even after receiving a cancer diagnosis while providing care for another person. She had her breast removed. She was also receiving chemotherapy. While working, she slowly sings. She speaks up on her own when no one would listen, and she moves through each day with dignity and humility. I took this image one day before heading to work. She was unaware that I was there,” Scott wrote.
“Friends, this is what greatness looks like when everything is serene and peaceful. Waiting for her daughter’s oatmeal to be prepared for the 300th time since she became ill. Chemotherapy caused her to lose her hair. Despite having every reason to give up, she chose not to. Not everyone gets the privilege to live with a superhero. And each day I am grateful beyond measure for it.”
The photo of Sharon speaks ultimate love, devotion, and what it means to never give up.
This story is just a reminder that we should never have ill feelings for those people who are part of our life. If you agree, share this inspirational story with your family and friends on Facebook.
Bored Daddy
Love and Peace
