Lisa Thompson had always been the kind of woman who could handle anything life threw at her. She was an accountant at a well-known firm in Santa Clara, California, and despite her demanding 9-to-5 job, she always made sure her home was in perfect order.
Every morning, she woke up at 5 a.m., cooked breakfast for her husband Chad, and herself, then headed to work. By the time she got home in the evening, she would be back in the kitchen preparing dinner. And Chad? He had always been supportive, helping her with housework whenever he could.
But everything changed after Lisa gave birth to their twin boys, Lucas and Charlie.
Lisa and Chad had been happily married for three years and had spent a long time trying to have children. When Lisa finally saw those two pink lines on her pregnancy test, she couldn’t contain her excitement. She had screamed, cried, and hugged Chad so tightly that he laughed and twirled her around the living room.
“We did it, baby!” she had cried joyfully.
“We did it!” Chad had agreed, his face beaming with happiness.
For the next nine months, Lisa focused on keeping herself and the babies healthy. And when the twins were finally born, she knew her life had changed forever.
After giving birth, Lisa made the tough decision to leave her job temporarily and stay home to take care of their newborns. She was exhausted but happy, embracing her role as a full-time mom. But while Lisa saw it as an opportunity to bond with her children, Chad saw it differently.
“All you do is sit on that couch and relax, Lisa. At least start working out! Just look at how much weight you’ve gained after pregnancy! Losing a few pounds won’t hurt you!” Chad would often mock her, laughing as if it was a joke.
At first, Lisa ignored his comments, assuming he was just overwhelmed with work. But as time passed, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Chad was losing interest in her. He no longer appreciated her efforts, and worse, he barely spent time with her. If she tried to talk, he would brush her off and go to bed early.
One evening, Lisa finally decided to confront him.
“Honey, I know work has been stressful for you, but we promised to always be honest with each other,” she said softly. “Lately, you’ve been so distant… is something wrong?”
Chad barely looked up from his laptop. “It’s nothing, Lisa. Everything is fine.”
“Are you sure?” Lisa pressed. “Because I feel like—”
“Noticed what, Lisa?” Chad snapped, his voice rising. “Can you please just let me work in peace? Why do you have to poke your nose into everything? Instead of worrying about me, why don’t you use that energy to look at yourself in the mirror? When was the last time you actually took care of yourself?”
Lisa’s heart sank. “Chad…”
“Oh, don’t start crying now and make me the bad guy! Look at your friends, then look at yourself. Why can’t you just lose some weight?” He stood up abruptly, glaring at her. “Are you trying to push me away on purpose? Are you seeing someone else? Where do you even disappear early in the morning before I wake up?”
Lisa gasped. “You think I’m cheating on you?”
“How would I know?” Chad shot back. “You don’t want to work anymore, you don’t take care of yourself, and you refuse to get a babysitter. You just want to sit around and eat all day!”
Lisa felt a lump form in her throat, but before she could say anything, Chad stormed out of the room, leaving her in tears.
That night, Chad was working on his laptop when a loud thud startled him. Thinking it came from the twins’ room, he rushed out, only to find Lisa collapsed on the floor.
“Lisa! Lisa, wake up!” he shouted, shaking her, but she didn’t respond.
Panicking, he called 911 and rushed her to the hospital, leaving the twins with their neighbor, Mrs. Clemments.
Hours later, the doctor gave him an update. “Your wife collapsed due to extreme stress and exhaustion. She hasn’t been eating properly, has she?”
Chad was stunned. “Eating? She’s home all day, resting!”
The doctor shook his head. “Resting? Mr. Thompson, your wife’s body is severely depleted. She needs proper care.”
That night, Chad returned home feeling guilty. As he sat on the bed, his eyes landed on Lisa’s diary. Curiosity got the best of him, and he flipped it open.
What he read shattered him.
Lisa had written about the joy of becoming a mother, how much she loved Chad, and how she dreamed of being the best mom to their twins. But as he turned the pages, his heart ached at what she had written next.
I feel so alone. Chad barely looks at me anymore. He doesn’t love me like he used to. I don’t know what I did wrong…
Chad clenched his jaw, turning the page.
I’ve been trying so hard to lose weight. I even started waking up at dawn to go to the gym. The trainer gave me a crazy diet, and I feel so weak. But Chad still calls me lazy. I don’t know how much more I can take…
Tears streamed down Chad’s face as realization hit him. Lisa had been struggling all this time, trying to please him, and he had only made her feel worse.
The next morning, he visited Lisa at the hospital with her favorite flowers and a small card.
Lisa blinked in surprise when she saw them. “Chad?”
He sat beside her and took her hand. “Lisa, I’m so sorry. I was a terrible husband. I didn’t see how much you were doing. I love you, Lisa, just as you are. Can you forgive me?”
Tears welled in Lisa’s eyes. “Oh, Chad…” She squeezed his hand. “That means so much to me.”
When Lisa came home, Chad had another surprise waiting—a candlelit dinner, the room decorated beautifully. He pulled out a chair for her, poured her a glass of wine, and played their wedding song in the background.
Then, he got down on one knee. “Mrs. Lisa Thompson, may I have this dance?”
Lisa laughed through her tears. “Of course.”
As they swayed together, she whispered, “I missed this.”
“Me too,” Chad replied, holding her close. “And I promise, from now on, I will never take you for granted again.”
From that day on, Chad changed. He supported Lisa, helped with the kids, and took her out for dates. Every single day, he reminded her, “I love you just the way you are.”
Lisa still went to the gym, but not to meet anyone’s expectations—only to feel healthier and stronger for herself and her children.
Lessons from this story:
- Love someone for who they are, not how they look. Chad forgot why he fell in love with Lisa and judged her for her appearance instead.
- True beauty lies in the heart. Lisa was an amazing wife and mother, but Chad only realized it after almost losing her.
- Appreciate those who love you. Never take your loved ones for granted. Show them love while you still can.
