10/10/2024
Today is a day I did not know was going to be part of her song
But today is the day it was always about
I am sitting in this hospital waiting room as my wife of 32 years is going through a surgery
A surgery needed by millions of females her age
One that she needs now
But it was 32 years ago at our wedding ceremony, she sang that song
A song I had not heard, but I think of regularly now
Especially today
“I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman
As I stood waiting for her to come down the aisle the lyrics were striking
But the single verse that has stuck with me then, at 22 years-old, and now as I sit here at 54
“I will be here when the mirror tells us we’re older…”
And here we are
Older
And I can tell you for a fact that those were not empty words I listened to as a young man not sure where life would lead
She has been here, with me through the twists and turns of life
Job loses. Job promotions. Great finances. Poor finances. Cross country moves. Stupid arguments. Births of children. Passing of parents. Late night laughs. Late night cries. Physical appearance changes. Spiritual changes. New friends. Losing touch with old friends. Trips to beautiful places. Staying home and watching movies.
So, today before we left for the hospital, we laid in bed and I played her song
She shared her secret desires with me if something went wrong
I assured her I would do as she wished
And we cried
Not out of fear, but the weight of it all
I write this now sitting in the lobby as my wife is now in the operating room
Before they wheeled her out of the staging area, I bent over and whispered to her
“Now it’s my turn. I will be here”
