This is by far the most sweetest and heartfelt speech I have heard. Sharing this to all the readers of act like a man to remind us that to make love work we need as a couple to mutually sacrifice to find mutual fulfillment. Here is the speech and I made a transcript of Robert McQuilkin’s speech below.
I haven’t in my life experienced easy decision – making on major decisions but one of the simplest and clearest decisions I’ve had to make is this one, because circumstances dictated it. Muriel, now in the last couple of months, seems to be almost happy when with me and almost never happy when not with me. In fact, she seems to feel trapped, becomes very fearful sometimes almost terror, and when she can’t get to me there can be anger…. she’s in distress but when I’m with her she’s happy and contented, and so I must be with her at all times… and you see, it’s not only that I promised in sickness and in health, till death do us part, and I’m a man of my word. But as I have said, it’s the only fair thing. She sacrificed for me for forty years to make life possible… so if I cared for her for forty years i’ll still be in debt. However, there’s much more… It’s not that I have to. It’s that I get to. I love her very dearly and you can tell it’s not easy to talk about. She’s a delight. And it’s a great honor to care for such a wonderful person
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Muriel, contracted Alzheimer’s disease in 1981. After caring for her as much as possible for nine years while continuing to lead the school (including having her accompany him to classes at times) he found it unworkable to be her full time caregiver and simultaneously maintain his ministry commitments. Therefore, he resigned from the presidency of Columbia.
I haven’t in my life experienced easy decision – making on major decisions but one of the simplest and clearest decisions I’ve had to make is this one, because circumstances dictated it. Muriel, now in the last couple of months, seems to be almost happy when with me and almost never happy when not with me. In fact, she seems to feel trapped, becomes very fearful sometimes almost terror, and when she can’t get to me there can be anger…. she’s in distress but when I’m with her she’s happy and contented, and so I must be with her at all times… and you see, it’s not only that I promised in sickness and in health, till death do us part, and I’m a man of my word. But as I have said, it’s the only fair thing. She sacrificed for me for forty years to make life possible… so if I cared for her for forty years i’ll still be in debt. However, there’s much more… It’s not that I have to. It’s that I get to. I love her very dearly and you can tell it’s not easy to talk about. She’s a delight. And it’s a great honor to care for such a wonderful person
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