From Inmates to Playdates

On Sunday, we learned that a little boy in Stevie’s first grade class most likely had leukemia.

Heartbroken at the news that a little boy who has been a part of my son’s life for the past four years was seriously ill, I prayed that God would heal his body and be with his family as they started down a lengthy, heartbreaking road. In a split second, (or in the time it took to render a diagnosis) the course of this little boy’s life was changed.

The next day, we learned that it most likely was not leukemia, but a problem with his body absorbing sodium. Whatever the case may be with this little guy, I have carried a heavy heart for them since I heard the news. I will continue to pray that the Doctor’s can locate the cause of the problem and that it can be corrected.

I will also continue to count my blessings for two healthy children. In a split second, that could change.

A while ago, our family attended a program in the auditorium of our local high school. Before the program began, our two-year-old-spit-fire, Alex was playing on the bleachers in the auditorium. In a split second, he toppled head first down the bleachers and landed in the next row on his head. As he fell, I noticed his neck was bent and it appeared as though it might have snapped.

For a split second, my heart stopped. Fortunately, this particular spit-fire is one tough cookie and so he was fine after about five seconds of top-of-his-lungs-wailing. I was sitting just a few feet from him, but, I was completely helpless to stop the fall. A fall that happened in a split second.

That incident happened just days after Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter, Maria was struck in her driveway.

The day before that incident, while we were excitedly preparing for a fun day with our family, I received a call from my friend asking me to send a prayer request out to our church. A little boy, Davin, who was almost two years old, fell from an upstairs bedroom window. He was bleeding from his mouth and he was believed to have broken his neck. My family went on with our sweet, peaceful day. We enjoyed time with our families and the children enjoyed playing with each other. My children, who have never known war, or trauma, or distress, continued to play and enjoy their day.

In a split second, Davin’s life changed.

I simply can’t imagine what the Chapman’s went through after the death of their five-year old. Or, what Davin’s family faced after his fall (he recovered completely by the way!)  Their hearts are most likely filled with regret, desperation and terror. My heart hurts when I hear about children in tragic, life-threatening circumstances.

By the grace of God, we have not endured any of these tragedies. I am typically on edge when it comes to the safety of my children, yet, in a split second their lives can change. And, as was the case at the high school, I was right there. Within feet of the fall. So very often, we as parents, make mistakes. Most of those mistakes only result in close calls. At any given time, however, those incidents can leave us drastically changed. As a parent, charged with the safety and well-being of  my sweet boys, I try to be on guard every minute of the day. An error in judgement or brief distraction can result in tragedy.

Scripture tells us we will have trouble and heartache in this world. Some will have more trouble and heartache than others. Still, I believe in the Sovereignty of God and believe in His word. While I can hardly wrap my mind around the heartache and despair faced by the Chapman’s,  I take a deep breath and trust in my God. I am so very thankful that they are His and that He watches over them daily. 

A split second can change your life.

Recently, my URL friend, Darcie (Such The Spot), wrote a post about how a few seconds changed her life. Thankfully, her sweet son Jayce is okay, but we could all learn something from her post about aquatic awareness.

Today, I am thankful that the God of the wind and the sea watches over my fellas and me!

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