‘Somewhere along the line I wanted to stop being intimate, yet, he never complained. He waited patiently for me to return.’: Wife details her ‘miraculous marriage’ in response to viral post honoring husband before writer’s death

“Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal wrote an online dating profile for her own husband.

Why? Because ten days later she would die.

Her viral post, her selfless and sacrificial words, rocked me to my core, and so I decided to write my own version as a gift to my husband for our upcoming anniversary.

My husband is still alive—we’re mostly still well.

Let’s hope for a million more years it stays that way.

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His name is Shawn Hanrahan but that doesn’t matter much. He’ll respond to any cutesy pet name you want to give him during your courtship. Sometimes our daughter will shout his given name, ‘Shaaaawn!’ if Daddy doesn’t get an immediate reaction. She gets that from me, my boldness (and bossiness).

See that’s another thing about him. He doesn’t mind doing for others, even when those others misplace their manners. In fact, he’ll do anything for his family. When I was pregnant (and thereafter) I had intense food aversions, so I stopped cooking and sent my husband for carry out, A LOT. Drive-thru dining at its best. He never complained—well, only once about the cost of fake fast food meat—but he served it to me with a smile anyhow because that’s him: A serving man.

That’s his love language and you’ll get used to it. You’ll get words of affirmation and quality time if you like, but mostly you’ll get a full tank of gas. Or a clean house. Or pictures hung on your wall with precision and care. I’ve realized as the years have passed that it’s less about being the life of the party and more about the care someone gives you behind closed doors. He’ll take little and big burdens off of you; he’ll take nothing in return. You’ll get the freedom to become who you’ve always wanted to be, but you’ll also get a companion along for the ride.

He’ll be your best passenger. Just be a safe driver.

When I wanted to quit my job (twice over) he said sure. Wanna be a writer? Stay home with your kids? Travel? Girls nights out? Breaks from your babies laying braless in bed for far too long? He’ll provide for it all. Somewhere along the line I wanted to stop being intimate—hormones are a fine and dandy thing—and yet, he never complained. He waited patiently for me to return.

When we first moved to the suburbs and didn’t have any friends, I told my Sissy I was lonely. She said, ‘Why? You’ve got a best friend living in your house.’ You see, sometimes it’s easy to overlook him; to become spoiled by his spoils, to have expectations instead of appreciation. I started to dismiss my friend. Don’t do that. He’s a good friend. He will always listen to you. He might not find the right words to say, but he tries and he’s on your team through and through. He’s steady. He’s a floater, a five. He’s happy where you put him, so you’ll need to lead. But what woman wouldn’t love that?

Do what you want. Just don’t take advantage.

He might fall asleep without saying goodnight. He might open your car door. He will love his own children more than himself. He will love you more than himself. He won’t have a lot to say, but that means he doesn’t overthink. So, you’ll never have to worry about jealousy, or boredom, or hatred, or other worldly feelings that make your skin crawl.

If you ask him to pray, he will. If you don’t, he will anyhow. He likes clean cars, advice on what clothes to buy, apple fritters, playing golf, working hard, and providing. He’ll give you the world, just let him. I hope my kids are like him one day: Even and steady, and of course, most of all, serving.

He has the biggest heart, quite literally, and when it stopped (twice), he just carried on without complaint. He just got up and lived some more. A quiet life, an ordinary life some would say, but I’ve been given the chance to stand witness to it and it’s nothing short of extraordinary. How one human being can sacrifice so much is beyond me. I’m not built that way, nor are you.

Magic like this man doesn’t happen very often.

So, try to capture some of it. Stand in his presence—if it’s up to him it’ll be silently—and enjoy what it feels like to be free. To be fully seen and loved anyhow.

Now that my friends is indeed a miraculous marriage.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Stephanie Hanrahan. Follow Stephanie on Facebook here, Instagram here and visit her website here. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Stephanie here: 

‘That’s when I heard the thud. The sound of a two-hundred-plus pound body hitting the nightstand next to our bed. A healthy, thirty-one-year old, former athlete doesn’t just drop.’

‘My Son’s teacher recently friended me on social media. I came upon a picture of her holding a chalkboard sign that read, ‘I said YES!’ She’s already married, so it struck me as odd.’