Last night, I got off work and headed over to my church for praise & worship rehearsal. Maybe an hour or so later, my wife calls and asks if I can come home immediately and take my youngest daughter to the ER. Of course, like any parent who loves their children, my heart began to race and I started asking questions to find out, WHAT HAPPENED?!
It turns out that my 4-year-old son accidentally dislocated my daughter’s elbow while trying to play with her and pulling on her arm. The doctor later explained that this is called Nursemaid's elbow and is a common injury among toddlers and preschoolers that is easy for a doctor to fix and causes no long-term problems. On the short drive home, while processing what happened, I went through a range of emotions.
At first, I was slightly upset that my son hurt my baby girl. Then I had compassion in my heart knowing that my son loves his sister and in no way meant to harm her. After that, my heart hurt for my daughter because it pains me to see any of my children in pain. All I wanted to do was comfort her as much as I could and make sure she knew that no matter what happens, Daddy will always be there for her.
God always has an amazing way of teaching me spiritual principles through the most seemingly mundane human experiences. I took this picture as we were sitting in the ER and my daughter was in pain. Yet, she was still able to smile for the camera because although she was hurting, she felt comfort and safety in the arms of her father. As I sat there holding her and loving on her, I thought about what our posture should be with our heavenly Father. No matter what we are going through, He too does not delight in seeing His children suffering. He too is always there for us no matter what, and we can always turn to God for comfort and safety in our time of need.
As we were checking out of the hospital a couple of hours later and my daughter was back to her normal self, I was incredibly encouraged by this excellent reminder. I can always rest in God’s grace, love, and peace. He will never leave me or forsake me, and He is always working on my behalf to rescue me from my pain. I am always loved and I am never alone, no matter the temporary suffering I may be enduring. Shalom.
