Prayers Needed!

This morning my son is going to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. He has "kissing tonsils." They are so large that they touch. Though this is a common surgery, it's still surgery. We're hopeful and prayerful that this will help with his constant sicknesses, etc.

When we did the consult appointment, my son had some questions he wanted me to ask the Doctor. I'm pretty sure they need to teach a bedside manners class in medical school cause the Doctor's response to some of my son's questions was unbelievable. Way to go.

My son--Question 1: "Will it hurt"

Doctor--Answer 1: "Yes. It will afterwards for a little while but you'll get to have ice cream and smoothies." Pretty sure he didn't hear anything you said Doc after you said "yes."

My son--Question 2: "Can my mommy be with me the whole time?"

Doctor--Answer 2: "No. But, you'll be asleep for a lot of the time. We have to give you special stuff to put you to sleep." Uh...pretty sure he didn't care what you said once you said "no." 

My son--Question 3: "Is it scary."

Doctor--Answer 3: "Some parts of it are. But you'll be asleep for those." @#)($*)#@(%*)@(#*$ 

And that was the pediatric specialist.

Ugh.

Mommy-RESPONSE: 

My sweet son, Mommy will cover your special blanket in kisses so if you get sad you know that mommy will be with you, sending kisses your way. I will take away all your hurts with popsicles and ice cream. And the hurts I can't take away I will pray away. We can pray together. And sweet boy, God will always be with you. He can hold your hand if mommy can't be there. If you're scared, know that He's there too. 

God, protect this little boy. Keep him safe in your care. Ease his fears. Take away the hurts. Be. With. Him. When. I. Can. Not. Ease MY fears (I don't even want to ask the Doctor about those). Hold my hand in the waiting room. Speak words to my heart when it's aching. 

Not just for the mommies out there...

I had the priviledge of listening to a recorded broadcast by Beth Moore, an amazing Christian speaker, the other night at bible study. Amazing. One thing that she said that has really stuck with me the past few days is that she said in a way everyone is a mother. Everyone is a parent. Those with kids, and those without. Huh? We are all responsible for the next generation. We are all "parenting" the next generation.

Wow. What a thought.

It's kind of fun thinking that I, as a mom of 2 boys, am actually also a "parent" to thousands of daughters. Though not quite fulfilling the longing I have, it's one that I can be excited about; I can be an influence to thousands of girls.

These children are looking up to us...all of us...each and every one of us...kids or no kids. They are watching our every move. They are learning how to be good stewards of Christ by watching us. They are learning how to be good moms and good dads, good husbands and good wives, good friends and good sons and daughters by watching us. They are learning how to respond when they are angry, how to forgive or ask for forgiveness, and learning about grace, by watching us. They are learning how to serve, how to sacrifice, how to love, how to care and how to give by watching us.


Unfortunately, they are also watching the bad things. 


The other day I was at the park with my boys. This sweet little girl came up to my oldest son and asked if they could be friends. My son, new on the whole speaking to others (see sticker chart), shyly obliged. They were playing great together until my youngest son was trying to go down the slide. I wasn't too concerned that she was encouraging him down the slide, after all, the slide was only 2 feet off the ground. However, her mother came over IRATE that she was doing that. She drug (literally pulled her off the slide and had the girl's feet dragging behind her) her over to the bench and SCREAMED (read: verbal abuse) at this little girl. I tried to say that it was okay, she didn't cause any harm but the mom would not hear it. A few minutes later it happened again, only this time the mom screamed at the little girl to go to the van for a consequence. Fortunately I was able to distract the mom long enough to have her forget that she was going to "give a consequence." What did the little girl do? She picked some flowers for me. ME. A complete stranger. They are watching. 


The illustration above allowed for a great teachable moment with my boys too. 

As parents we can only do so much. We have to rely on those around us to be a support as well and hope that it's support, and not something else. It's scary to think that someone I don't even know, don't have a chance to approve or disapprove, will have an influence on my child. And there will be times when I am not around to provide my version of a teachable moment. It's for times like that that I pray...hard. If I didn't pray, I would drive myself crazy thinking about all the bad.


God give me a patient heart, an encouraging voice, and words to speak so I can positively influence my kids...all kids...Be with my children when I can't be there, guide them, help them to be the positive influence to their peers. God, please take my fears away. Fill my heart instead with love and trust that I'm doing my best, doing your will. Amen.


And a special prayer for ALL of you (parents or not) out there...may you be a positive influence today, tomorrow, and forever, knowing that little ones are watching. 


Readers: I never know what to do when I see a situation of abuse. What would you/do you do?




© Transparencies of Motherhood 2010

There's a reason we pray BEFORE we eat

My youngest (will be 2 in November) said he wanted to say the blessing at dinner the other night. Now, he doesn't know how to speak sentences yet, never mind know how to put 2 words together, so his older brother said he would help him. Here's the dialog...

Kadyn: "Dear God. Thank you for this food. Thank you for Mommy being an AMAZING cook. Thank you for Mommy, and Daddy, and Kai, and Boulder (our dog). And thank you God for making Boulder feel better (see post here about the $2500 bouncy ball he swallowed). Amen."

Not even 2 bites in to his dinner Kadyn turns and says to me "I don't like chicken nuggets (whiny sing songy voice)."

So much for being an amazing cook (like chicken nuggets would even qualify anyway). Maybe that's the real reason we pray before we eat as opposed to after. His prayer might have gone something like this...

"Dear God. Thank you for yogurt (I let them have a greek yogurt if they don't want dinner...softy? I know). Please help Mommy get better at cooking. Thank you for Boulder feeling better so he can eat whatever I pass him under the table. Amen."