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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Congenital

It is not often that I have a minute alone with just one of my kids.  So when I do, I treasure it, I drink it in and hold the memory tight because before long I'm sure I will have a very quiet house.  Gracie and I have a standing date on the 1st Sat of every month.  It may be something small like going to Starbucks and having Hot Coco and just talking or it may be going to get a Pedicure or just hiding out in my room, locking the door and watching a movie.  Whatever it is, I try to make it special because girls need their Mamas!  I will continue this with Anna Claire when she is a little older.  I don't often get special time with Jake because, well, I'm just not cool enough to hang out with Jake....or so he thinks!

But this morning, after making lunches, getting kids dressed, dropping them off in different places all before 7:30 I realized that I had Jake in the car all to my self.  So we talked ...about random stuff but I listened, really listened, no interruption from my blackberry or the radio just me and him and here is how our conversation went:

Jake - "Mom,  we have a kid at camp who has something wrong with him"

Me - "What do you mean, wrong with him"?

Jake - "Well, his ribs stick out really far and he has trouble breathing, he can't run and play like the rest of us and sometimes he has to use oxygen, I think it's a congenital issue".

Me - "Congenital"?

Jake - "Yeah, you know Mom, born that way, how God makes you before you are born"

Me - "Hmm, so what does he do all day"?

Jake - "Me,  Draven and Gavin and ask him to sit with us at lunch and we invite him to play games like board games and stuff that won't make him tired"

Me - "That is very nice of you boys"

Jake - "I guess, I wouldn't want my brother to not have anyone to play with if he was at camp because of his congenital issue so I figure maybe God will remember that when Ethan is my age and someone will play with him when I'm not around"

Me - (hiding behind tears falling behind my sunglasses) "You're a good boy, Jake, God made you that way you know, right?"

Jake - "Geez Mom, your not crying are you?" "You can't drop me off like that, get it together..."

And that is how our 3 minute conversation went on the way to summer camp today and I will drink it in and forever hold it close to my heart.....



Proverbs 22:6




Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

4 comments:

Amber said...

I needed a good cry today. :) You have a precious, precious boy on your hands. What an amazing testimony he has already...an what an incredible spirit about him. Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this.

Debbie said...

What an awesome kid you have!

I truly believe the siblings learn so much by these little teachers in their lives. God is breathing so much wisdom, love, and grace through His littlet teachers, and their siblings will carry that throughout their lives.

I know we would never choose this path for our children, but moments as you described, make it worth much of the heart-ache!

God bless you guys...

Heidi said...

What sweet boy. I really do believe Jack has made our other kids more compassionate people. They just notice these things. I remember my sons 6th grade school field trip to a Aquarium last year -- he ended up tearing up over watching a little boy in a wheelchair. I know he related to this little boy because of his brother. He has a lot of worries about whats going to happen to him. You just tend to forget sometimes how much it affects siblings. HUGS to your amazing Jake. Love the photo :)
Heidi & Jack.

Unknown said...

Imagine how wonderful this world would be if every child knew God the way Jake does. He has certainly blessed you with the gift of raising such special and loving children.

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