Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The little white lies we tell our kids

Our son, Jacob, does not like storms.  In fact he hates them and is terrified of them - but has really worked on conquering his fear.  When he was about 3, I thought it would be comforting to tell him that thunder and lightening were only his two papaws bowling with the angels in heaven.  I also added that both of his papaws loved him dearly and would not let anything harm him - in fact they were his guardian angels.  Needless to say, my plan backfired.  For about a year to a year and half after, he would yell at the ceiling for his papaws to stop making so much noise when it stormed and that he was very upset with both of them.  Now as he has gotten a bit older, he has stopped yelling at the ceiling, and resorted to asking why his papaws are making it rain all of the time.  "Why won't they stop Mom?  I want to go out to play."  So we have had several discussions about the flowers, trees, and grass needing water to grow and that God is providing them with nourishment. 

With all of the storms that have been  happening around the country this Spring, it leaves me in awe at the power of mother nature.  It also makes me realize that even though Jacob had a rough night sleeping last night (which means so did I) and it will probably be a rough night tonight, it is trivial with all of the destruction that has occurred in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.  I have friends who have had family members lose everything - homes, memories, and have been injured by the power of storms.  And my biggest complaint this week - that I will have an uncomfortable night's sleep in my son's bed with him due to his fear of storms.  I should be and am thankful that I will have a bed to sleep in, a roof over my family, and a little boy who wants nothing more than his parents to be with him as much as possible.  That is what is truly  important.  I can do without a good night's sleep as long as I have that forever.

No comments:

Post a Comment