There was a man named Robert who was in a car accident and suffered extensive injuries. In the hospital they were able to set his bones and stop the bleeding, but they could not save his eyes. He was permanently blind. 

A friend named Matthew came to visit Robert, one who had also suffered at the hands of a careless driver. He still used a cane.

"My life is over. Without my eyesight I cannot do my job or see my wife or even put on matching socks!" Robert fumed.

Matthew sat quietly, allowing Robert time to grieve, as his loss was real. He shifted in the stiff chair. Eventually he spoke. 

"I will be back to visit next week. All I ask is that you make me a list."

"Of what?" the blind man was peckish, but curious too. 

"Make a list of the things you can do." Then Matthew rose slowly and left. 

The following week he arrived for their time together and Robert seemed animated.

"I started only to appease you, but then I thought of more things. My wife transcribed them from the recording I made.  Feel the wind, hear music, hug my granddaughters, taste cheesecake, feel my wife's skin against mine. I couldn't stop! When I reached a thousand I was laughing, and so was she. Laughing! I forgot to add that."

Matthew smiled, and reached out for his friend's knobby hand. They both squeezed. 

Most marriages are tethered by limitations. Perhaps communication is limited, or time together is hard to come by. For some, there is long standing pain, that settles in like arthritis from an injury long ago. Some partners are blind to ways they behave, or clumsy with selfishness. 

But all of us could still compose a list, married or not, of ways we are both blessed and free. Writing mine would keep me busy a long time.