Esther slumped back against the driver’s seat, her mind reeling from her visit with the doctor. Sure, her hip was hurting, but a full replacement? That seemed a little extreme. Still, she’d been putting if off for years, and as Dr. Burton said, it wouldn’t get any better with the passage of time. How could she care for Phillip while she was recovering? She fastened her seat belt and sent a silent prayer to God to give her wisdom.

               By the time she reached home, she had enough peace to paste a smile on her face. She swung open the front door to see Philip, as expected, in his favorite recliner. Even with his gray hair and wrinkles, he was still the most handsome man she’d ever seen.

               “How did things go with the doctor, dear?” Phillip asked.

               Esther bent down to give him a kiss and settled on the chair across from him. “He told me I need to get the hip replaced.”
             “That’s good news, right?” Phillip asked. “Won’t that stop the pain?”

               “I suppose,” Esther said, “but I’ll have a bit of a long recovery.”

               Phillip’s brow creased. “I’m sorry, my love. I wish I could help you more.”

              “I know, dear. I’m just concerned about you.”

             “Pshaw,” Phillip said. “I’m fine.”

             Esther gave a knowing smile. “Of course, you are, my dear. I’ll go make some lunch for us.” She stepped gingerly to the kitchen, hip groaning with every step.

            After lunch, Phillip drifted off to sleep. When Esther returned to the kitchen to wash the dishes, the phone rang.

            “Hi Mom.”

            Esther’s spirits soared at the sound of her oldest daughter’s voice. “Oh, Sharon. How are you? You don’t usually call during the day. Is everything alright?”

            “I was about to ask the same of you, Mom. I just had a sense you needed to talk today. Are you OK?”

            “Dr. Burton said it’s time for my hip replacement.”

            “Well, I think that’s good news,” Sharon said. “You’ve been in pain for years.”

            “Yes, but your father…”

            “It’s not about Dad right now,” Sharon said. “This is about you. You’ve done a wonderful job taking care of him, but someone needs to take care of you, too. When is the surgery?”

            “The 23rd,” Esther said.

            “That’s Thanksgiving week,” Sharon said. “That’s perfect.”

            Esther’s heart sank. “I hadn’t even thought about that. How is that perfect? I won’t be able to make Thanksgiving dinner.”

            “It’s perfect because we’re off from school that week. Jim and the kids and I will take care of everything.”

            Sure enough, the night of the 22nd, Esther and Phillip’s usually quiet house became a hotbed of activity. Sharon and Jim unloaded bags of groceries. Esther’s grandson sat across from Phillip, immersed in a game of checkers, and her granddaughter busied herself in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of cookies.

            When the kids had gone off to their room and Phillip had drifted off to sleep, Sharon sat on the sofa with Esther. “Are you nervous, Mom?”

            “A little,” Esther admitted. “I’ve never been away from your dad for more than an hour or two since he fell ill.”

            “He’ll be ok, Mom. He’ll be surrounded by people who love him. You’re only going to be in the hospital one night, and I’ll stay with you as much as they’ll let me. Sam and his crew will be here for Thanksgiving, and you won’t have to lift a finger. We all love Dad, too. Let us have a chance to show him.”

            Esther patted her hand. “Thank you, dear. You’re a good daughter.” She rose stiffly to her feet. “Now I’d better get these old bones to bed. We have to be at the hospital awfully early in the morning.”

            “Don’t remind me,” Sharon said.

            After getting ready for bed, Esther climbed in next to the man she’d slept beside for the last 52 years. She wouldn’t be in this bed tomorrow night. What if he needed her while she was gone? She closed her eyes in prayer. She prayed for strength, for peace, and in gratitude for her family.

            The next morning, she silenced her alarm as quickly as possible so as to not disturb Phillip. She fumbled her way to the bathroom. When she returned to the bedroom, he was sitting up in bed, the light on beside him.

            “I’m so sorry I woke you,” Esther said.

            “I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I hadn’t seen you this morning,” Phillip said. His eyes filled. “I’m sorry, my love. I should be the one driving you to the hospital today.”

            Esther sat next to him and he took her hands in his. “You are the light of my life. I’m sorry the last few years I haven’t been able to be the kind of husband you deserve. I wish I could take care of you the way you take care of me.”

            Esther squeezed his hand. “I love taking care of you.”

            Philip pointed to the bedside table. “Open the drawer.”

            Esther, puzzled, reached for the drawer and pulled out a small box. “What’s this?”

            Phillip grinned. “Just a little gift for my girl.”

            “How did you pull this off?”

            “Just open it.”
            Esther opened the box to find a delicate silver chain. At the end of the chain was a beautiful silver angel. “Oh, Phillip, what a lovely necklace.”

            Phillip’s lips curved into a smile. “You’ve been my angel all these years. I want you to wear that in the hospital and remember that God is with you, even if I can’t be.”

            “I still don’t understand how you did this,” Esther said, her brow knit in confusion.

            “I knew you’d be going to the hospital one of these days. When Sharon came to visit last month, I told her what I wanted to do. She showed me some pictures on that fancy phone of hers. I gave her some money and she ordered the one I picked out. She gave it to me last night.”

            Esther’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Phillip. You are so sweet. I can’t believe you did this for me.”

            “Let me help you.” Philip undid the clasp and tenderly fastened the necklace around Esther’s neck. She fingered the delicate angel.

            “Thank you,” was all she could get out, her voice choking with emotion.

            “None of that, now,” Phillip said. “You’ll be back home directing everything before you know it. We’ll be fine around here. Now go take care of my girl.”

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in times of trouble.

Dear Lord, thank You for always being with us, even when we can’t be with those we love. Thank you for showing Your loving care through the actions of others. Please help us to be Your hands and feet to care of those in need, not only those in our family, but all those who need our help. Thank you for the blessings of marriage and for the wonderful examples we see of marriages who have stood the test of time, in sickness and in health. May those who are married remember their vows in times of trouble. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.