More Important Things

Today we set off on an overnight adventure. As a part of Elijah’s birthday and family day (today is the 7 year anniversary of God bringing him into our family), we planned a 3 day trip to an amusement park (2 days there and one day at the beach). Because it is a 3 hour drive, we were trying to get out the door early. However, as it would so happen, as we were hurrying about trying to pack, get breakfast, and get people dressed (and convince a few young ladies that pajamas do not work for going to the park and certain pants also don’t work nor do they belong to that person), some overambitious play on the part of one boy resulted in upset feelings and some hurt on the part of another boy.

Of course, because we were rushing about, our quick fix solution was to tell the upset child to stop playing with the other person. He did that, but only later did dad realize that he had also gone to sit by himself on the stairs leading to the basement. Dad didn’t realize that whatever had ensued triggered more emotions and upset feelings. Thankfully, there was still time to attempt to help some with that. So dad went down to sit on the stairs and attempt to talk in very broken Portuguese (naturally he was in a spot that was just out of internet reach and so translation options weren’t even readily available). These are the times we really wish we could speak fluently. You see, something seemingly insignificant had somehow flipped one switch too many – perhaps this child reached there limit, but it is equally likely that past history and trauma came flooding back in this moment.

So for an extra while dad tried to talk, while mom closed to door and kept the other kids away. And the Lord provided a chance on the basement stairs to attempt to communicate to a child that we know things are hard for them, that what happened just now was not right, but was also a part of another child struggling to adjust to all the changes. This led into an opportunity to also brokenly share that we don’t know this child’s history, but whenever they are ready, we would like to hear it and that we are there for them when they feel comfortable. And to also share that the little bit we do know makes us realize that this child had to basically act as an adult for most of their life – they lost their childhood, they were robbed of their years of innocence/fun/play, and they had to be far more responsible than any child that age should ever have to be…and that this was not right…it should not have been…it is a painful reminder of the sinful world we live in (although this sentence didn’t make it due to very limited vocabulary)…and that we are sorry. We hope and pray the next years can be full of more light, life, and laughter – but we also know there is a history that is dark and painful…and a child lugging around more emotional baggage that anyone should have to ever carry…and this is heartbreaking.

Today we left later than planned and much later than we could have. Because there were more important things to do. We missed the first opportunity to seize the situation, but thankfully the Lord provided a second for a child in need. Because sometimes we are in too much of a hurry trying to accomplish all of our plans and meet all of our deadlines. And sometimes we run the risk of missing the more important things God has in store for us. So we are thankful that He provided basement stairs and a tag teaming system to allow us to seek to capitalize on the more important things.