This is a thanksgiving column. I’m 90 days early for the official national celebration, but there’s a reminder at my kitchen window I’ve been contemplating for awhile now. It’s a flat wooden angel with bright eyes, a seraphic smile, and a head full of Spanish moss curls.
Across her heavenly form are scrolled these words:
“Here sits your windowsill Angel . . .
A gentle reminder to pray.
Have you thanked God
For your many blessings today?”
It’s a good thing I see her so often to remind me to be grateful, because sometimes I get so busy that I forget to acknowledge just how lucky I am to be so busy. This particular cherub’s has been extremely prominent reinforcing the many kind thoughts and prayers that have come my family’s way recently. My husband Jim had major back surgery a week or so ago. It’s been a long time coming, with all other medical options exhausted, dates set and dates postponed. Tests taken and having to be retaken for one reason or another. Waiting. And more waiting. Everything that adds to the normal stress of a serious medical procedure.
During all this time our family, church and friends as well as colleagues in some local organizations I (particularly) frequent have patiently endured all my newest updates to the changing situation and wished him well. Surgery is over. It went well. Thank God for the skill of the surgeon, because some of Jim’s problems have greatly eased and others are improving. None of the awful side effects that could’ve happened (probably wouldn’t – but could’ve) didn’t come to pass. But you can never completely banish that “what if” from the pre-surgery mindset. It takes awhile to fully heal, but we are looking forward to success.
Both of us have been touched by the many phone calls, e-mails, cards and personal visits people have taken their time to share. Apparently I’ve been so fussed by this situation that I’ve mentioned it even more than I realized. I was getting out of the car in the driveway the other day and the mailman honked his horn and called out, “How’s your husband? Back playing golf yet?” Good Lord – I don’t even remember telling him about it!
Our youngest grandchildren are disappointed that he’s not coming to a “Show and Tell” to display his surgery staples. Riley even suggested that removing said clamps would be something he and his classmates would love to see even more. “Very scientific,” he urged, when asking me if I could bring his grandfather over to the school for such a demonstration. “And it would be educational,” he added in vain, hoping that would cinch the deal for an enthusiastic bunch of fourth graders.
Adults, thank goodness, offered less dramatic but more comforting options. Like running errands, doing some shopping, driving him to a doctor’s appointment if I had a conflict, taking care of a project or report I was involved with – in general a flood of welcome and much appreciated “what can we dos?”
Family and friends are our true treasures. Often it takes illness or some hovering bad fortune to remind us of this. We Hills are indeed blessed – and thankful – to have so many angels in our lives.