LOVE BEYOND LIMITS: A story of faith, patience, & unconditional care

Written by: Sophia Roman
Article source: JOY! Magazine

We all experience different seasons in marriage. Conrad (88) and Linda (72) have been married for 48 years. They enjoy a “blended family”, as Conrad was married before. Together they have two adult daughters who are married. Today they enjoy their empty nest.

Rejected due to illness
Life has not always been easy for them. At birth, Linda was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Her mom took care of her by washing and feeding her. She still has the little “shoes” the doctor made and wrapped around her feet for months. All the bones in her body were soft. Her head would hang on her chest all the time. The bullying and name calling are things Linda still remembers from her school years. It was painful and, at times, she did not want to leave home to go out into a space where she experienced so much rejection and abandonment.

The cardboard shoes the doctor built for Linda, which she wore for months.

Falling in love
Meeting someone to marry was far from her mind. “Who would want to marry someone who has this kind of disability?” she thought. But then she met Conrad… Conrad hails from Durban and came to Cape Town after a failed marriage. He met Linda in church. Linda remembers his anger and unforgiving heart. They started a friendship and all she heard was pain. Her mom would ask her how one could speak about his hurt so much. Linda realised that the day he was to stop speaking about his anger, hurt, and unforgiveness, he would be a healed man. She decided to give him a listening ear and be patient. In the meantime, after spending much time together, the two fell in love. Conrad asked for her hand in marriage, but her answer was “no”. He had not given his heart to the Lord, and there was no way that she would be unequally yoked as she had been a firm believer since her teenage years.

A life-changing encounter
Linda’s Christ-like lifestyle was what captured Conrad – her patience and humility. She would always challenge him to give Jesus a chance in his life. One day back at his workplace, Conrad had a supernatural encounter with Jesus. He sensed a figure who said: “Connie, I am calling you to Myself. I love you, but it is up to you.” He watched the figure walking away. He immediately asked his manager if he could leave the premises, as something had happened to him. He got off from the bus at Linda’s house and asked her mom to call the pastor to their home. That day, Conrad accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. A few months later he asked Linda for her hand in marriage once again, and this time she said “yes”.

A blessed marriage
His love towards her is one of serving. Linda has been totally dependent on Conrad to see to every detail of her needs for the last 48 years, including feeding and washing her. Their days start at 4:00, Monday to Sunday throughout the year. He always reminds himself, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.” There are times when Linda has her off days, but then he would look into her eyes and say, “Linda, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were made in secret by our God. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are beautiful, Linda”. It took her a long time to experience a sense of belonging due to being bullied at school. Today, Linda lives in God’s love and acceptance of her. Her days are filled with reading, knitting, praying for others, and endless laughter and conversations with her best friend, Conrad.

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Date published: 25/06/2023
Feature Image: Linda and Conrad Bloem
SOPHIA ROMAN – pioneer, visionary and life transformation coach. Sophia and her husband, Theo, pastor the West Reach AOG Church in Mitchells Plain.

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