Yesterday, Madelyn and I took a trip to the ER. She was playing with some friends at church before service and ended up with her face hitting a wall. I didn't see it so I don't how exactly how it (or she) went down, but I do know that it was deep enough to need some hefty stitches. So, off we went to get stitches for the THIRD time in the past year for a Rhodes child. (I'm starting to wonder if Ben and I are doing something wrong here....) We got there and Madelyn was pretty upset. I finally got out of her why - she thought that if we went to the hospital she was going to have to stay there, like overnight. I assured her "no, you don't have to stay" and she calmed down pretty well. When the doctor came in, she suggested gluing the cut located on her cheekbone instead of stitching it. I'm glad because it was much less traumatic and seems to be well put together to minimize scarring. She also said the one on her eyelid was superficial and didn't need any "stitching". This picture was taken shortly after coming home from the hospital yesterday. Today her eye has the additional hues of purple and red and some swelling. Madelyn is being such a big girl about all of this. She isn't upset about it, although she was a little shocked the first time she saw herself in the mirror after our ER trip yesterday.
Can I be honest for a second? I'm angry... I'm angry that my little girl has gotten this very prominent cut on her face and will probably have to look at a scar on her face for the rest of her life. I'm angry that I couldn't stop it from happening. I'm angry that we didn't deal with some of the issues that could have kept it from happening (like not letting Madelyn run in her sunday shoes). If it happened the way I've heard, I'm angry that she got pushed. I'm trying to confess this to God and allow him to heal this anger inside of me but I'm also having a hard time letting it go. When I really think about it, it's so petty to be angry about something so insignificant in the larger picture of life and love.
God, you are our Provider and Protector. I know, in my mind, that You are sovereign and that You know us better than we know ourselves. Lord, help me to see, in my heart, how you love us and desire to care for us despite all our shortcomings. Help me to see what is really important and not get stuck in the superficial, shallow trappings of this world. Please forgive me.
2 comments:
Dear Melissa and Madelyn,
First of all, no you are not doing anything wrong. Kids get hurt unless you put them in a bubble and never let them experience life. I can't imagine bottling up Madelyn's wonderfully exuberant personality!! She is enjoying life under your watchful eyes. You have to blink....God made you that way.
And as far as her getting pushed: That is another story. But you know that there is nothing you could have done to prevent that, either. And it's okay to be angry about it. I would think it would be strange if you weren't upset about that. I do hope the pusher's parents take note; their child's behavior needs attention.
As far as the scar: There is evidence that the warm breezes of the Pacific have healing properties, causing scars to be minimized. Physicians have recommended using a blow dryer on low heat, genly blowing the wound for a few minutes several times a day for a month during the healing process. Grandmother Rhodes even used this technique on her knee when she had surgery, and even at her age, you have to look really hard to see her scar. (I mean REALLY hard....) I don't think it could hurt anything and it just might help, PLUS the warm air in your cold climate would probably feel really good to Madelyn. But, even if there is a little scar, that's okay. It just makes her even more unique.
I love you!!
I don't know if you read about Evan's accident last September, but I dealt with some pretty powerful emotions during that time as well. I hope you are doing better with it and that Madelyn is recovering quickly!
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