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AweekafterourdaughterLaurenwasborn,mywifeBonnieandIwerecompletelyexhausted.Eachnight
Laurenkeptwakingus.Bonniehadbeentorninthedeliveryandwastakingpainkillers.Shecouldbarely
walk.Afterfivedaysofstayinghometohelp,Iwentbacktowork.Sheseemedtobegettingbetter.

WhileI wasaway sheranoutofpain pills. Instead ofcalling meattheoffice, she asked oneofmy
brothers, who was visiting, to purchase more. My brother, however, did not return with the pills.
Consequently,shespentthewholedayinpain,takingcareofanewborn.

Ihadnoideathatherdayhadbeensoawful.WhenIreturnedhomeshewasveryupset.Imisinterpreted
thecauseofherdistressandthoughtshewasblamingme.

Shesaid,"I'vebeeninpainallday....Iranoutofpills.I'vebeenstrandedinbedandnobodycares!"

Isaiddefensively,"Whydidn'tyoucallme?"

Shesaid, "Iaskedyour brother, butheforgot!I've'been waitingforhim toreturnallday.Whatam I
supposedtodo?Icanbarelywalk.Ifeelsodeserted!"

AtthispointIexploded.Myfusewasalsoveryshortthatday.Iwasangrythatshehadn'tcalledme.Iwas
furiousthatshewasblamingmewhenIdidn'tevenknowshewasinpain.Afterexchangingafewharsh
words,Iheadedforthedoor.Iwasfired,irritable,andhadheardenough.Wehadbothreachedourlimits.

Thensomethingstartedtohappenthatwouldchangemylife.

Bonniesaid,"Stop,pleasedon'tleave.ThisiswhenIneedyouthemost.I'minpain.Ihaven’tsleptin
days.Pleaselistentome."

Istoppedforamomenttolisten.

Shesaid,"JohnGray,you'reafair_weatherfriend!AslongasI'msweet,lovingBonnieyouarehereforme,
butassoonasI'mnot,youwalkrightoutthatdoor."

Thenshepaused,andhereyesfilledupwithtears.Ashertoneshiftedshesaid,"RightnowI'minpain.I
havenothingtogive,thisiswhenIneedyouthemost.Please,comeoverhereandholdme.Youdon't
havetosayanything.Ijustneedtofeelyourarmsaroundme.Pleasedon'tgo."

Iwalkedoverandsilentlyheldher.Sheweptinmyarms.Afterafewminutes,shethankedmefornot
leaving.Shetoldmethatshejustneededtofeelmeholdingher.

AtthatmomentIstartedtorealizetherealmeaningoflove,unconditionallove.Ihadalwaysthoughtof
myselfasalovingperson.Butshewasright.Ihadbeenafair_weatherfriend.Aslongasshewashappy