ONE MORE DAY

I didn't realize it would come down to this. I thought that when I spoke those simple words so many years ago that he would always remember them, remember me. It seems only a breath away when we were swept away with excitement. " I do, I do, I will, I will", We did, we have. We promised our lives, our love, our joys and sorrows in sickness AND in health - until DEATH US DO PART. I think the 'PARTING' is now just breaths away. The ring on his finger is still there, but the symbolism of security and faithfulness that it represented has been intertwined with tubes and medication. As young parents we squabbled over whose turn it was to change the diaper. "Come on, baby, I did it last time. It's time YOU take some responsibility and have a turn. O, Look, it's a good one this time - wink, wink"
I KNOW, I KNOW HIM. If he knew that HE was now the one being cleaned and changed, he would quickly rise up out of that bed and take his turn. Just as it was with our children, my responsibility continues. I don't want to become bitter. I want to see this as another opportunity to bring to life a promise I made, a promise that I will keep with no regrets, questions or whys. I want my moments of comfort in holding his hand to be reflective, a reminder of when butterflies came to me as I held his hand. A confidence in remembering the strength of his hand as complete silence became a prayer "God, I know you will be with us and see us through this another trial". And He always did, God always saw us through so many things. Births, deaths, career changes and losses, weddings, funerals and many many days of nothing but complete dependence on God's grace to carry us ONE MORE DAY. The strength and confidence remains as I sit here ONE MORE DAY. Each day is just one more day. I will never know if today is our last day or if we'll have ONE MORE DAY. "I'm here, baby, I'm here. Yes, I know it hurts, but I'm here. I'll always be here - one more day.