In our quest to celebrate supportive husbands and in-laws, here is an inspiring story that will touch your heart and restore the lost faith in marriages and relationships.
In a country, where women are expected to sacrifice their dreams and aspirations for the family and kids, it is heart-touching how her husband and in-laws supported Grace Elizabeth in fulfilling her dreams.
In a thank you note to her husband, Grace Elizabeth mentioned how without the support of her husband and in-laws, she would have failed to turn her dream of pursuing higher education into reality.
Grace Elizabeth, who wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, got selected in the nursing program in CMCH, Vellore in 2000.
While sharing her inspiring note with The Logical Indian, she mentioned:
“Life was never easy as a nursing student.” She admitted. “I saw everything from smiles on the face of parents seeing their newborns to the heart-wrenching cries of people letting go of their beloveds. Nursing taught me how to feel, touch, and understand like a patient undergoing treatment. – it taught me empathy.”
After 4 years of hard work, she became a registered nurse. As part of her service obligation to the Christian Medical College and Hospital, she was sent to Kolhapur to work for a small, 50-bedded hospital. Post which, in 2006, Grace got married.
“I got married to a person who I can never ever stop being thankful to. He helped me blossom.”
The same year, Grace quit bedside nursing and began teaching until 2014. During this time, the couple became parents to two children. It was 2014 when Grace’s husband and mother-in-law encouraged her to pursue a master’s in nursing.
“Since I had lost touch with studies or nursing it wasn’t an easy step for me. But then I was constantly encouraged to take up this route by my mother-in-law. She was the one who told me that it was not late to do my masters. Eventually I applied for my Masters in the US.”
In August 2014, Grace was accepted into the program. But, things weren’t easy. Though her in-laws offered to support her financially as she took up the program, she wondered how her husband would manage the kids alone.
“But all of the doubts in my mind were put to rest as I spoke to my husband. He held my hands and said,”You go on and study, I will take care of the kids here”. My eyes weren’t able to hold back the tears of the pain of separation.”, she added.
Grace reached the US in Aug 2014 to start her studies. Though it wasn’t an easy journey, the one person who became her strongest support was her husband.
“Lots to study, impending assignments did take a lot of my time and energy. In the meanwhile, my strong support, my husband took up the assignment of managing work and kids back home in India. Everyone I spoke to in the US, kept asking me – how does your husband manage everything by himself?
I used to say just one thing to them,”I know if it was not for him, I would have never ever reached where I am today. I could have never done what he did for me.” He makes tiffin boxes for my kids every morning, gets them dressed, drops them to school. Takes care of every need of theirs. He has to drive to his office and look for a parking spot else he would have to pay a lot for it.
He is forced to skip several of his meetings in the office in case the domestic help takes a leave. He sacrificed a lot for us. Each day I am thankful to God for giving me such a husband. He selflessly does everything in order to help our small family move on.”
In 2015, the day finally arrived when Grace completed her studies and proudly held her post-graduation degree in her hands. But, without the support of her husband and in-laws, this dream would have never turned into reality.
The Bottom Line:
Not only does Grace’s story shows how it’s never too late to pursue your dream, but also inspires men to support their wives in fulfilling their dreams. It also sends across a powerful message on how we should not let society’s regressive thought process define our marriage.
At IFORHER, we are celebrating Grace’s inspiring note and hope others would seek inspiration from this couple!