…if you’d told me I’d have a child in a wheelchair one day, I’d have fallen to the floor.
(I was just worried about her posture.)
If you’d told me that her face would be almost unrecognizably altered, I would have screamed in horror.
(I got upset about a zit.)
If you’d told me that I wouldn’t know her voice, I would have wept inconsolably.
(I nagged her to speak more softly and slowly.)
If you’d told me that she wouldn’t be able to take care of herself, I would have stared at you in disbelief.
(I fussed at her about doing too much for other people.)
Now…
I’m elated if she can stand for a minute.
I’m thrilled if the corners of her mouth aren’t chapped and torn.
I’m ecstatic when I don’t have to ask her to repeat herself on the phone.
I’m overjoyed if she can pull her son into her lap with one arm.
Everything’s relative.
(Well, not absolutely everything. The most important things are not.)
But you know what I mean.
4 comments:
Mine are five and two. I worry about each and every one of those things, big and small. I worry that one of mine will hurt someone else's child one day in a horrible moment of youthful indiscretion, driving too fast or drunk, or hurt themselves or spouse or child doing something stupid.
I worry that one or both will have inherited what I have and need dialysis and hearing aids.
I worry that one might be too smart too function in normal society or not smart enough to get the job they want.
I worry, worry, worry all the time about things I have no control over and cannot change.
And I pray that if any of these terrible things come to pass they will have Katherine's faith and I will have her mother's strength. If I had both, I wouldn't worry so much.
I think Laurel said it best in her last paragraph. Praying for strength for all of you.
l
em
Thank you for the fresh reminder - as a Recovering perfectionist, I am reminded of how little we can control in life. Praise our perfect and mighty God. His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great. Thank you for showing us that with every word you pen for us to read.
spoken with such grace. I pray that i can be the type of mother to my boys that you have been for Katherine and your family. You have been steady, compassionate, strong, honest, and loving. What an example you are to me. I love to check each evening to see if you have given us a little gift to read.
Post a Comment