Marriage and Disability

I can relate to these clips from Joni and Ken Tada's interview in Christianity Today:

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In the book, you write that "marriage only magnifies suffering." What do you mean by that?

Any marriage is going to have problems, but when you throw in a disability, it's like enlarging the problems tenfold. Disability forces problems to the surface. Suffering squeezes you like a lemon, and what comes out might be pretty bitter. ... Christians often imagine they have a solid marriage, but when our love is put to the test, our commitment becomes real. We're faced with the question, Am I going to love this man or woman for better or for worse? I don't know that our challenges are greater than they are for another couple. The sacrifices might be greater. But with sacrifice comes a great reward of a deepened faith and trust in each other.

How did you, as someone with a physical disability, relate to your husband's struggles with depression?

At first, I was resentful. I think he just wanted me to understand what he was going through. And boy, that little bit of empathy really bound us together even more strongly.

You can catch the rest of the interview here.

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