Tube out

Last year at this time the surgeon removed the first chest tube with the hope of the other one coming out tomorrow. This really lifted Marsha's spirits because she could see the day coming when she would be home. I think it was also the day when the doctor came in the room and clearly had an uncomfortable air about him. He proceeded to tell Marsha that the results of the pathologist are in. She looks at him and he says in a quiet shyish kind of way that she has fourth stage metastatic squamous cell lung cancer in multiple locations in both lungs. Marsha just looked at him so he asked her if she knew what that means. Her response clearly shocked him as she said, yes it means I'm going to die. She saw the look on his face and added that it's all right. She said to him I know where I'm going and I'm ready. He just kind of looked at her without a sign of understanding. He soon departed, I'm sure still baffled by her composure and assurance. After he left, was the instance when Marsha started to scribble out my future budget without her income. She was funny in her immediate concern for me not herself. It was so Marsha. She then suggested I needed to find a new wife with an income. I asked her when she wanted to start interviews of candidates for my future wife. That memory goes with me among the strongest of all. I remember again and again how many times her first thought was for someone else. I had a real treasure. She always said it would not be good for me to be alone. She thought she would never marry again if I died first, but she thought that I needed to have another wife. I loved her for many reasons but if you could glance at the frequency of her obvious concern for others. Thank you Lord for such an example in my life.