Celebrating the start of a new life with someone you love at their wedding is really wonderful.
At the wedding of USMC Sgt. Joshua Newville and Senior Airman Emily Leehan, the guests were expecting to have a good time, and they did. But they also saw something incredibly special.
Leehan, the bride, had written vows for her stepson Gage. She started reading them out loud.
The cute little child couldn’t hide his excitement at his dad’s wedding. It was clear that he not only liked his soon-to-be mom but was super happy about his dad’s choice.
During the wedding, Leehan noticed Gage looking at her with big eyes. So, she turned to him and started reading the vows she wrote for both of them.
When she finished, everyone in the room said “awww” because her words were so full of love and emotion.
People were happy-crying, but what really touched everyone’s hearts was Gage’s reaction. He couldn’t stop sobbing, holding onto his stepmom tightly as he listened to what she was saying.
Leehan told him, “I want you to be safe, and to try your hardest and to be a good person.” Then, she said, “Don’t cry, baby,” because she could see that the emotions were a lot for the little guy to handle.
“I also want you to know that you’re a special boy,” continued Leehan. “You’re really smart, handsome, and kind to others. You’ve helped me become the woman I am today. Even though I didn’t give you life, life gave me the wonderful gift of having you.”
After a short moment to collect their emotions, they exchanged their vows as part of the wedding ceremony.
It’s mentioned that after the wedding, the newlyweds went back to work right away.
They were both required to report back to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, so the honeymoon had to be put on hold.
A young businessman had been so caught up in his hectic schedule that he couldn’t find time to care for his sick father. So, he made the tough decision to place him in a nursing home.
The sleek, black sedan hummed along the highway, a stark contrast to the quiet, labored breathing coming from the back seat. Michael, a young businessman with a perpetually furrowed brow, gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. Beside him, his eight-year-old son, Ethan, stared out the window, his gaze fixed on the blur of passing trees.
In the back, Michael’s father, Thomas, sat frail and thin, his once vibrant eyes now clouded with illness. Michael had been wrestling with this decision for weeks, maybe even months. His schedule was relentless, a constant barrage of meetings, deadlines, and international calls. Caring for his father, whose health had deteriorated rapidly, had become an impossible task.
He’d visited countless nursing homes, searching for the “best” one, the one with the most amenities, the most attentive staff. He’d convinced himself it was the right thing to do, the responsible thing.
As they neared the facility, a grand, imposing structure nestled amidst manicured lawns, Ethan turned to his father, his eyes wide and innocent. “Dad,” he asked, his voice soft, “what’s the address of this place where we’re leaving Grandpa?”
Michael’s heart clenched. He’d tried to shield Ethan from the reality of the situation, but children, he’d learned, saw everything. “Why do you ask, son?” he replied, his voice strained. “Do you want to visit Grandpa and know where he’ll be?”
Ethan shook his head, his gaze unwavering. “No, Dad. I just want to know where I should bring you when you get old, like Grandpa.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp, like a physical blow. Michael’s hands froze on the steering wheel, the car veering slightly. He stared at his son, his mind reeling. He saw not just Ethan, but a reflection of himself, a future he had unknowingly painted.
He saw the cold, sterile rooms of the nursing home, the lonely faces of the elderly residents, the emptiness of a life devoid of family. He saw himself, years from now, abandoned and forgotten, a victim of his own callousness.
The realization hit him like a tidal wave, washing away the layers of self-deception he’d built around himself. He had been so consumed by his own ambition, his own perceived importance, that he had forgotten the most fundamental truth: family was everything.
He pulled the car over to the side of the road, the hum of the engine a stark contrast to the sudden silence. He turned to his father, his eyes filled with remorse. “Dad,” he began, his voice choked with emotion, “I’m so sorry.”
Thomas, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and understanding, reached out and placed a trembling hand on his son’s arm. “It’s alright, Michael,” he said, his voice weak but filled with love. “We all make mistakes.”
Michael turned the car around, the grand facade of the nursing home shrinking in the rearview mirror. He drove back to their home, a simple, unassuming house filled with memories and love.
The next few months were challenging, a constant balancing act between work and family. But Michael found a way. He rearranged his schedule, delegated tasks, and learned to prioritize. He hired a part-time caregiver to assist with his father’s needs, and he made sure to spend quality time with both his father and his son.
He learned to appreciate the simple moments: a shared meal, a quiet conversation, a walk in the park. He learned that true success wasn’t measured in dollars and cents, but in the love and connection he shared with his family.
Ethan, with his innocent question, had shown him the way, reminding him that the most valuable lessons in life are often taught by the ones we least expect. And Michael, in turn, vowed to never forget the importance of family, the enduring bond that transcends time and circumstance.
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