Last week Lacey was under the weather. Her temperature was running around 101 to 102 and she was pretty miserable with a stuffy nose and a cough. So Dana set her up a "nest" on the couch like she has with all the girls when they are sick... a TV tray next to the couch with tissues, water and anything else they may need.
I had come home from work and was sitting in the living room with Lacey, Dana Lauren and Dana and I were discussing Lacey's fever going up and down. Dana left the room and Lacey showed just how deeply she can think. She said, "Lauren, does fever go sideways"? In our discussion of her fever going up and down she began to wonder what that meant... so she surmised it must be able to go sideways as well.
This really showed me how much like her Daddy Lacey really is. I was always lost in though as a child. I was trying to solve the problems of the world... and what I knew of the world was what drove my thought processes. You see, Lacey heard the words "up and down" and, I'm certain, envisioned something bouncing or moving up and down.
This just goes to show how different our thought processes are from our childrens' thought processes. They have a very limited view of the world and that view is all they have to shape the way they see things.
When I go to a movie that may be rated PG-13 and see parents with their small children I have to wonder what in the world they must be thinking (the parents that is). How could you expect your child to watch a movie that is far beyond their comprehension and not be affected by it? Why would you expect your child to watch a movie and not think this is just the way people should act?
I feel such anger towards parents who do this and such pity for the children who find themselves subjected to adult situations they should have never been asked to deal with at such a young age. They are going to grow up with such a malformed view of how they should behave in this world.
So when I hear my little girl asking "can fever go sideways" I have to thank God for instilling in me a strong desire to raise my children apart from today's Hollywood and as close to God as possible. Lacey will grow up with a Christ-like perspective on the world... and, God willing, she will become a trusted friend, a peacemaker, a hard worker, a helper, a loving wife and mother. When someone around her becomes sick she will know that fever doesn't go sideways... and that she can help. She will be a witness for Christ and will help lead many to the Lord.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. " (Prov 22:6)
Neal, I couldn't help but smile when you talked about trying to solve the world's problems. It took me back to our years of growing up together. I have to agree that you always wanted the world to be a better place and most times even tried to make it a better place. I always knew you were "different" (even when we were in the middle of mischief!), but never realized how blessed I was up until the last few years to be able to call you one of my very best friends. Because of your convictions and your strong desire to serve the Lord, you have avoided some of the mistakes that many of us have made with marriage, children and life in general. Your children are extremely blessed to have you as their Daddy. Not only do you serve as an example to them, but you are a great testimony to the rewards of faithfulness to Jesus Christ...a wonderful wife (yes...I actually said it Dana!) and kids.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, buddy!!