Category: Different Moments

Posted in Different Moments, Different Thoughts

splashes and saviors

Posted on by Wick

It happened so fast, it was slow motion. Every split second of it still pounds fresh in my mind…

Grandpa and Grandma were visiting for the weekend, as we were celebrating our oldest daughters’ birthday. She turned five this past week (whoa.), and so we found ourselves swimming at the hotel pool where my parents were staying. Usually that means our oldest (Addie) has swimming wings, our 3 year old (Sophie) has a ring with leg-holes, and our 2 year old (Ruby) is being carried around the pool. But this time, the ring with leg-holes recently sprung a leak, and so we were using a cheap drugstore supplement. Sophie used a regular ring (no leg-holes) on Thursday and Friday without issue. Gradually as she gained confidence at staying in the ring, we gained confidence in her as well.

Then it happened. I had wandered to the other side of the pool with Ruby, Addie was doing fine with her water wings, and Sophie was on the steps with her ring around her. But Sophie has developed a dare-devil side. She wanted to “make a wave” like she’d seen daddy do earlier. Thankfully, my wife (Sarah) was heading toward the entrance to the pool at that moment, and my dad was walking near the edge by the entrance. Compiling sources, here is a brief recount of what followed..

Sophie crouched down like a frog about to leap from one of the steps, and jumped forward into the water. Her ring did not go as fast as her body, and she flipped forward in the water. I heard Sarah scream and everyone was moving quickly toward these two legs sticking out of a ring in the water. Holding Ruby close, I jumped into action, but running through 4 feet of water isn’t very quick. I yelled out to my dad, who happened to be right next to the pool where Sophie was, and he looked down, quickly knowing what to do. He grabbed her by the ankle, and hoisted our crying baby girl out of the water. She cried a minute, and was fine (more than we were) after that.

So as I offer Him this moment, how can God use this to help me grow as a parent? I realize the truth that I may not always be the “savior” for my children. I depend on other loving relationships that are close to her, to watch for when she begins to sink. I trust that others are capable of loving/caring for her in difficult moments. It won’t always be easy, but it is necessary. If I’d yelled to my dad, “Back off! I’m her father, and I will get her out of the water!!”, it may have taken too long. I pray that when the moment comes, I will be as thankful as I am from yesterday’s event…

Posted in Different Moments

Tummies & Jail

Posted on by Wick

Last fall, I was at the breakfast table with my girls before church.  Sarah had made some homemade apple muffins that morning, and they were just about ready to eat.  Just then, Addie dramatically put her hand on her side/belly, and said, “My tummy hurts…”  To which Sarah and I, not really worried but wanting her to know we love her…asked her why her tummy hurt, and if she was just hungry for breakfast.  But before Addie could reply, a voice came from across the table…Sophie wasn’t waiting to hear anything:

“Dear God, please help Addie’s tummy to feel better. Aaaaa-Mennn!!  (then turning to Addie)  Now your tummy don’t hurt anymore!!”

Which would be the cutest event that week, until Childrens’ Church.  I went with Addie, because as a 4 year old, she still wasn’t quite comfortable being left alone in a new class of older kids.  So we sat/listened together.  They talked about Jesus “paying the price” for our sin, and enacted a scene to illustrate.  Each child stood before the “Judge” (a nice older lady, who couldn’t help but smile as she pretended) and read a card handed to them.  The card told them what they were guilty of (bad words, stealing, etc.), and the judge told them how much they owed.  No one could pay, so all had to head to the “Jail” (row of chairs), from which Jesus rescued them all later on.

Addie and I were last.  I didn’t know how she’d respond, but figured it was good to find out anyway.  We walked up to the judge and were handed our card.  “Lying to your parents” was our offense.  I looked at Addie with a wink to let her know we were just pretending and said, “Uh oh Addie, we lied to our parents.”

It didn’t take long for the fun smile to leave her face and her eyes to get larger.  But instead of the tears I thought may come from such an accusation, she didn’t miss a beat before defending herself: “No I didn’t, dad, it was Sophie!!”

Needless to say, me and the judge were cracking up. 🙂

I love my girls. 🙂