The Child

I was sitting upon my bed. Unable to speak. Pounding pain along my left temple. Awaiting for my husband's helping hand. Then she walked in. My precious daughter of 10. Big brown eyes. A smile that radiates outwards from within. She stopped short when noticing that my cheeks were dampened by my tears. My Emma, requiring what was the matter, quickly realized when I could not give a proper response was suffering from one of many chronic complex migraines. What took place next will remain in my heart forever. My little girl wrapped her arms around this Mama and began to rock me softly as she stroked my hair, whispering, “It’s okay. It’s gonna’ be alright.”

How has this precious child learned such Mercy and Empathy? So much guilt I have carried for so long that my children have and are growing up with an ailing mother. Too many missed outings. A first band concert too sickly to attend. How I have wished so much more for them. But in the last several months, God has shown me otherwise. He has created me for such a time as this. Times of taking hold of moments of pure light that outshines the darkness. Joy and humor where once none could be found. Or I could not see.

My children too were born for these moments and days. They are learning what it is to dance in the rain as they have witnessed their father and I do. They have learned compassion as they see their father care for his bride. They listen to our laughter when we have no reason to laugh at all. Bringing Joy to an ailing soul. Later only learning that His Mercy is never ending. Yes. Time is short and Life is hard, but it is through these difficult days that we learn compassion. Hardships to teach us to endure. Suffering to teach us empathy. It is this way we then pass it on to others who crave that loving touch. Moving then further to another and another. This is how we change a broken world.

“Remember….Compassion colored everything [Christ] He did.”~ John MacArthur