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I've gotta be there

Last night was a really rough one. My youngest son was in tremendous pain. He was constipated! We were praying throughout the night asking God to help ease this discomfort. He was screaming and hollering. At one point in the night, he was saying, "I can't take it anymore! I can't take it anymore!" It was a moment when I felt completely helpless and guilty because I was not feeling the same pain he was; nor could I take his pain away. I never want my boys in pain. It hurts to see. It's now 2:00 am. I did everything I could possibly think of to help him. Nothing was working, nothing except this...

"Son, I need to give this to you. I know you can do it, but I need you to be brave." I needed to give him a suppository. "Son, can you do this? It will take five seconds and then I am done."

"Okay dad. But will it hurt?"

"No, son! I would never give you something that would hurt you." He squeamishly gives me the okay until he sees what it is. He hates them.

"Dad, can't God just make it better?", he says in a frightened voice.

"Yes, He can. He also gives us things to help make things better. So I need you to be brave or we may have to go to the hospital."

"Okay."

The rest of the gory details I will leave out. Let's just say that through prayers and a little meds, he had victory! Around 2:15 am, he finally stretched across his bed and pulled the covers over him. As I tucked him in, he simply said, "Thanks dad." Those two words meant the world to me!

Moms are usually always there. We hear celebrities and star athletes ALWAYS give shout outs to their moms. When my sons get those opportunities, I want to hear a shout out to me as well as their mom. Not because I feel I deserve it, but because I was...there. Dads, be there...

Lend me your comments and give feedback, examples, or encouragement to dads (and moms) that read this. There is no off season in our time with our children. Peace.

Comments

  1. KooshFriday, August 07, 2009

    Your post is very encouraging and convicting. I pray other fathers read this as well as moms. God has given you many tools to help your sons. It's wonderful to hear how they are growing in the Lord and learning from your example. It is so true that children praise their moms more than their fathers. I pray you continue to receive thank you's and I love you's from your boys. God is using you to do great things.

    ReplyDelete
  2. suburbanmomFriday, August 07, 2009

    Been there! Kayro syrup also works...
    It's never an easy situation for a mom OR a dad. Kudos to you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. A-Monday, August 10, 2009

    Just in the same spot last weekend myself. It was a bit different since we had to try to explain to a two year old who was hysterical with pain already (fun times). It was very comforting to have my husband with me to try to explain to her and to see him hurting with her as well. I appreciate your insight and hope to raise my daughter up to always recognize all her dad does for her and to say "Thak you Daddy" all the time. I agree you guys probably don't hear it enough :).

    ReplyDelete

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