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Marry the Person Who Loves You Through Grief

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By Chelsea Ohlemiller

Man holding crying woman — otnaydur/Shutterstock.com

I’ve read countless “Marry the Person Who . . .” articles. All have held truth. All have held beauty. However, after enduring the loss of my mother, grief made my list much different than the ones I’ve read.

Grief taught me important components of relationships and love. Grief revealed new aspects of my husband’s love and support I never knew I needed but became so grateful to possess. Items I never had on any dating wishlist. Items that aren’t romantic or glamorous, but important and necessary.

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Grief taught me to . . .

Marry the person who becomes your lifeline when you’ve just lost yours.

Marry the person who doesn’t just take your breath away, but reminds you to breathe.

Marry the person who acknowledges your grief, your pain, and your sorrow with grace and love and compassion.

Marry the person who picks you up off the floor—again and again—wiping your tears and working to erase your ache.

Marry the person who accepts your brokenness, your emptiness, and your journey to healing.

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Marry the person who understands the unpredictability of loss and the complicated mind of the grieving.

Marry the person who holds you up when you feel like failing, who carries you when you can no longer walk, and who encourages you to keep stepping.

Marry the person who can look at your parents on their deathbeds and thank them for creating you, the love of his life.

Marry the person who can look at your parents on their deathbeds and promise to protect you, keep you safe, and love you fiercely, all the days of his life.

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Marry the person who acknowledges the important life lost, while also reminding you to keep living.

Most of all, marry the person who will pick up your broken pieces and hold them carefully until the day you’re ready to take them back and build something beautiful from the heartbreak and brokenness.

Originally published on the author’s blog

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Chelsea Ohlemiller

Chelsea Ohlemiller is well-known for her blog, Happiness, Hope and Harsh Realities. She has written for multiple platforms such as Her View from Home, Love What Matters, and Scary Mommy. She has had essays featured in two Chicken Soup for the Soul collections, as well as the national bestseller So God Made a Mother. Her first book is available now, "Now That She's Gone". She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and three children. Website: www.hopeandharshrealities.com Instagram Handle: hopeandharshrealities Facebook: @hopeandharshrealities

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Marry the Person Who Loves You Through Grief

Marry the person who doesn’t just take your breath away, but reminds you to breathe.

Marry the person who holds you up when you feel like failing, who carries you when you can no longer walk, and who encourages you to keep stepping.

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

When I Look In the Mirror, I See My Mother

I Lost My Daughter on Mother’s Day: 3 Truths I’m Believing Today

I Miss Having Parents

What No One Tells You about Losing a Sibling

Grief Didn’t Break Me, It Rearranged Me

I’m Learning To Be Soft and Strong

The Legacy Our Mothers Leave Is In the Details

You Never Get Over Losing Your Mother

My Husband Is By My Side Through Every Storm

Losing My Mom Shaped Me As a Mother

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