Marriage

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The day my wife took my hand(by Sam Tucker)

I paused outside looking up at the blue sky. As I entered the mall I made eye contact with a young girl, who was playing near the handrail of the escalator. She swung a leg up as if she was going to ride it. I gave her a stern look and shook my head in disapproval. She stepped away from the handrail, tucked her chin to her chest cocking her head to one side, she smiled a mischievous smile. There was a small crowd with her and I mistakenly assumed her guardians were among them. Not wanting to embarrass the girl or her perceived guardians I did not push the emergency stop button, but hurried to clock in. An elderly couple, separated from their party, stopped me. I escorted them to the office for assistance, a phone rang and a lady said, “SOMEONE FELL!” (I knew I had made a terrible mistake.) I walked as fast as I could; the usual roar of the mall was silence. I saw the broken body of a girl (brown eyes fading into darkness). The crowd moved back, the emergency personnel worked quickly and respectfully lifting the body. I held the door, the same door I paused at minutes earlier, giving thanks for a bright new day.
Returning to the mall walking the halls alone. I did not morn that girl, at that time I was not able. Nobody was there for her when the ambulance left with the body.
One of my routine tasks at the end of the day was to stop the escalators and turn off the lights. That night I just stood there starring into eternity, at the mindless piece of metal, unable to stop its own endless movement. I thought it would never end! I was aware of someone approaching, but I did not move.
A beautiful lady in a yellow dress knelt before me and pressed the button that stopped eternity. She stood, took my hand asking with honest empathy “are you ok”… It had been a long day and I welcomed the company as I walked her to her car, I knew we were not alone.
A decade latter someone asked, “who was the girl in the yellow dress?’ I replied, “That’s my wife”
And my wife she has been, faithfully in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, always giving and helping me, the mother of our son, a mother to many others, selflessly giving for others, forsaking herself for those in need. My back is turned on any who hurt her (stranger, family or friend). I have not and never will forsake her; she alone has been true to me.
17 years later our love for one another burns on like a well-planned campfire. Family and friends are welcomed to share in this joy.
Yes. One night in a palace that we did not pay for or have to clean, the woman who is my all walked with me on floors of stone with our Lord examining our hearts, in the darkness of midnight, after all the guests left, I made the doors secure and armed the security system. We walked and heard the echo of our footsteps, her in her yellow dress and me in my uniform. I walked behind, in front and beside a great lady with the heart of a lion and the soul of a little girl. She graciously accompanied me as we danced reverently in the center court between “up” and “down”. No tears were shed that night. That dark night that became a bright new morning and I thank God for the moments we have shared together.

This happened two decades ago. The one person who could have been fired for allowing me to have company that dark night has died of old age, Major Lewis was a fine wise man and he taught me much, I will never forget him or his strong wife.

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