OK--I'm a dad. I admit it. Dads fix things. Especially things dealing with those closest to you. And we get really frustrated when we can't fix something. Especially when family is involved.
Mom and I went up to the Palouse this weekend to be with the Oscar and Poppy while their parents came down here to run. And they paid money to run a long ways, but that is another story. So, I was content that we were helping some of the kids by setting up Grandma/pa boot camp for a few days. Then we get a call Sat that Muma had taken a fall and bumped her head-guess she did not listen as the doctor said "no more grandmas jumping on the bed...". Anyway, I talk with mom, get on the computer/phone, change flights to cut our time short by a couple of days, talked with the running kids to be sure they can be back for a timely hand off of the younguns before we have to drive up to Spokane to the airport, so we can get Mom back here to take care of her mom. Then, when we get here and get a bit settled in, one of the other kids has a heart to heart with me about how hard it is to grow up, and the typical struggles of transitioning to adulthood.
OK, break a bike--I can fix it. Knock down a section of fence, bend a screen on the window breaking into the house, have the hose spring a leak, have the clothes dryer die--I can fix most of those things. But the getting older and needing more care, and the hearts that are bruised by this life--those just frustrate me because I can't do much more than listen and try to do fluffy, inconsequential stuff. The real fix comes from that magical tool talked about in Alma 7:11-12-- "And he shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind...." (yes, I can quote it, but we need to see those words in front of our teary eyes sometimes). That is the only magical fix I know.
Bring me the broken bikes, appliances, sprinkling systems--I will try to fix those. I can only offer band-aids to the broken hearts and spirits. We have to go to our Elder Brother for the fix.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Often I am in the "Fixing" position within my family...when really there is nothing I can do but be a sounding board and hope they can some to the "right" conclusion themselves.
You really are great with the wisdom and strength you provide to those around you.
Thanks for caring for our little ones...they miss you and mom already!
Thanks for the post dad...you can always count on great advice and wisdom from you!
Thank you for your comfort and love. I didn't mean to break down. I don't know why I did!
You did fix my broken heart. You do have a magical tool--many, in fact.
Being a DAD is a magic tool.
Post a Comment