My parents just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary—quite an accomplishment! Unfortunately, my mother’s recent decline in health put a damper on the festivities. As hard as it has been on my mother, the emotional toll it has been taking on my father is equally dramatic. The whole situation has made me think about the true meaning of wedding vows, especially “in sickness and in health, ’til death do us part.”

My parents were so lucky to have decades of good health together, but now the sickness has arrived. Over the past several months, my father has watched the woman he has known for 60 years become more needy, more frail, less independent, and more forgetful; basically, a shadow of her former self. It’s depressing, frustrating, and somewhat isolating. But he’s there for her, trying his hardest to make things better for her. He is obviously a man of his word.

It makes you think about all those marriages that fell apart over all the usual reasons. Did (s)he leave because you don’t look as good as you did when you first got married? Because you’re not making enough money? Maybe you should consider yourself lucky because if your ex couldn’t deal with that stuff, it’s pretty likely (s)he wouldn’t be able to handle the “in sickness” part.

Do you think you can handle it?