All Good

(Originally written in April) Becoming a parent has been an interesting experience, to say the least. The perspective that I have quickly acquired in the short 15 months still surprises me. As I watch my baby-turned-toddler explore and test the world, I can’t help but think about the thoughts my parents had about me as I have grown up. The times that I tested their patience, did they privately keep their cool, or were they to the point where all they wanted to do was get away for a break? When I screamed and fought their hugs because I was overly tired, did they understand or feel a little rejected? When I thought I was clever and lied, did they see through the schemes yet pretend they didn’t?

I have a very clear memory from preschool when I lied and got away with it. At my preschool, we each had personal mats to use as our floor work space. These were also used for nap time or if a student was feeling ill. One particular day, I didn’t feel like working, so I lied to my teacher and told her I felt sick. She responded by letting me lie down and rest. I remember feeling so smart and proud of myself that I had found a loophole. As a four year old, I innately knew how to cheat and lie.

I have other memories of lying, yet feeling guilt, embarrassment and shame as a result. Although those are always uncomfortable emotions, I thank God I feel them. How sad of a world it would be if no one ever felt conviction for doing wrong?

 

Flash forward to now. Just a few days ago, I had a very stressful weekend while traveling alone with P. As part of living overseas, our visa requires us to leave the country every 60 days. Usually these trips are enjoyable and a chance to catch up with friends we have in neighboring countries. However, now traveling with a young child, the enjoyment has tended to diminish. Where before we could easily sleep on the airport floor if needed, we now must have a hotel booed beforehand. For P, nap times require dark and quiet, which isn’t easy to plan when away from home. And as any parent knows, no nap time equals a cranky kid!

All that being said, we had survived the weekend and just had one last night at the airport lounge hotel before our 6:55 am flight the next day. However, it was 10 pm at night and P was in no way ready for bed. So to burn some energy, I took her back out into the airport mall area so she could run around. What I thought would be 30 minutes max, turned into the next 36 hours of tears, frustration and confusion. You see, in those 30 minutes, P fell on the floor. And as I was picking her back up and soothing the tears, my phone fell out of my pocket. I realized what had happened about 2 minutes too late. By then, the phone had been picked up.

The feeling when your phone is gone……. Such a horrible feeling. All your pictures, your calendar, your contacts. The thought of having to start everything over, not to mention the cost of purchasing a new phone.

That night, P slept fine. I, on the other hand, barely slept a wink. And then to add to the situation, we missed our flight. We were a 5 minute walk to the check-in counter and yet, I had arrived 10 minutes late and as a result, was not allowed to fly! Getting no sympathy from the employees behind the counter didn’t make me feel any better. Although, to give them a break, I’m sure they have to deal with more than enough late and emotional customers.

At a loss, with no phone, I returned to the airport lounge with baby in hand and asked to use the computer to contact my husband. Tears ensued. People passing by gave me looks of sympathy and two different families helped watch P as well as loaned me a phone to make an international call.

Once we had a new game plan, I could think a little clearer. I got us changed to the next flight (which was the next day) and Daniel confirmed a booking for a hotel that night, via email. With 20 hours to kill, I decided to take one last shot in the dark and talk with the airport police concerning my phone. Typically in this part of the world, police aren’t always trusted. The cops spent most of the day going through the CCTV and identified a young man picked up the phone a few minutes after I dropped it. Next they determined he was an airport employee and called his friend who linked them to his family. He then came to the airport that evening and was told to share his story with me in the room. I got my phone back and even in the local language shared God made him better than taking a phone. It was such a shock that my phone was back in my hands. This phone like a cat has proven to have 9 lives.

Since that trip Daniel agreed he would join all visa runs and it has made for a fun way to force a 2-3 day holiday together. God works in many ways and if we allow he always proves the stressful and difficult times are to stretch and make our love for him stronger.

Godspeed,

The Gables