I can’t believe my little boy is going to be in school this coming fall! Of course, being the perfect parent, I missed his 4 year ‘well’ appointment so instead of getting 2 shots to be up-to-date with his immunizations yesterday, he had four shots! OUCH! #parentfail
Before getting there, I gave him a heads up and told him how he really needs it to go to school. I also told him that when he had shots as a baby, he never cried. I can’t verify that story 100% but I do remember my daughter crying when she was a baby and whimpering for hours afterwards so his reaction probably paled in comparison. 🙂
When his big sister felt the need to let him know that it would hurt, he recanted his baby story to her. He was ready! I kept reassuring him that he was so brave and he could do it. He lay down and the nurse decided to put two on each leg. The first one went in and it HURT! I could tell because his eyes got glossy but he quickly shut his eyes to prevent any tears from falling. I kept encouraging him to squeeze my hands and within minutes, it was all over. He had done it! There were high-fives all around and the nurse complimented on how he did better than some of her older kids.
As soon as she walked out, he looked at me and said, “Mommy, it really hurt.” I assured him again of how proud I was that he was so brave. Later that night, he told me that when he gets older, he won’t even do “this” (demonstrating a wince). I told him that I do that even now. His response was, “But I’m a man, mommy! You’re a lady!” LOL.
Levi’s day at the doctor reminded me of how we have a choice of how we react to life’s circumstances. There are many times when we’ll be faced with difficulties and pain and more often than not, we have to go through it to get to the other side. Here’s the good news….as followers of Christ, we can rest assured that He is holding our hands. God has already promised us that He has a plan for us! He promises to give us hope and a future and that He will make all things work together for us. And yet, sometimes we allow the valleys in our journey to break us. When was the last time you squeezed His hand?
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
-2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)
“For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
