imperfect prose on thursdays: on how to comfort your husband

i run frantic as the leaves fall yellow. i want to gather them up, this yellow, to bring home to trenton. a basketful of light, an offering of happy in the darkness of these days, but it takes more than a basket.

and how to comfort the one man you've ever known? the one whose skin your fingers have memorized? how to find the strength from babies hanging off back and front and sides and turn yourself inside out for the one who needs you come night? when all you want is to read and bath and nurture your tired soul?

yet even as he draws me close and i feel his heart through his skin, i feel his sorrow: the unexplained sadness of a mother turning sick, and him not knowing how to help, how to fix--this man who cannot bear changing carpets or brand-names--suddenly facing the biggest change: cancer, and son having to let go.

and so we hold each other beneath the sheets and i cry for the intensity of it all. for this sacred moment: him, in my arms, needing me, and me, being able to offer myself, and this a gift. our embrace, in this night, the most comfort any woman can ever offer a man, for touch speaks a thousand i love you's.

afterwards, we lie in the dark, him kissing the top of my head all matted dreads and i know this: even as the world, the seasons, the pant-sizes of our children change, even as mothers get sick and fathers age, this pulling close and needing each other, this is what polishes the wedding ring.

though we wrinkle and sag and forget and flail, if there's wrapping of arms around pounding heart, there's the prayer of facing another day. til death do us part. amen.



(this post is read by amber haines of the run-a-muck here)



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friends, i am walking for my mother in law, who has breast cancer, this sunday: would you consider supporting me by donating to breast cancer research? if so, please click here:





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prayer request from connie of 'raising eyes':

Our family would appreciate your prayers for my new grandbaby. He was born on 9/9/11 and has Down's syndrome. In the middle of the night (Friday) he was rushed to the hospital. He has undergone a series of tests (lots of needles). Tests have ruled out some serious possibilities, which is great news. At this point, the consensus (which concurs with our observations) is that his tongue is a bit thick/long and neck muscles extra slack (normal for kiddos with trisomy 21-down's syndrome so head position/tongue keeps closing off airway. He'll stay in hospital till Monday, then have Children Hospital Down's specialists consultation. We appreciate prayer whenever you think about our grandbaby and his parents. They waited many years to have this little guy and seek the wisdom of GOD as they raise him.