It
had been a trying day. The heat, the
sluggish car, the stand still traffic, and five kids in tow were taking their
toll on all of us. We even heard the
dreaded, “I am not going to poop in my pants, Mommy,” from the back seat.
So yes, we pulled into the nearest WAWA immediately
after that wonderful announcement. Yours
truly volunteered to take the three year old to the bathroom. As we were leaving, he put his hand in mine
and said,” Thank you, Mommy, you are my bestest friend, thank you.” I guess he really had to go! So we pressed on and made it to our
destination.
The A.I.DuPont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington received
us with welcoming smiles and helpful information. It was not our typical hospital greeting and
this gave me some hope. Maybe this will not be so bad. Maybe we will
really get some answers today.
By the time we were ushered into the exam room to wait
for Jackson’s orthopedist, our other children were literally walking around in
circles. It was about 2:30 in the
afternoon. The kids and the exam room
were not a good mix. So, when we
suggested that Bella stay with them in the colorful waiting area, complete with
an electric train table, television, and fosse ball, no one seemed to
mind.
The orthopedic staff was incredible. We were relaxing. And by the time Jackson was called to go get
his x-rays done, we were all joking around.
Then, the “good” chain of events
was broken.
“Your daughter just informed us that she cannot find her
brother. We have just told security, but
we wanted to let you know.” I looked at
Chris. He went out to the waiting area,
and I walked with Jackson to get his x-rays taken.
I had begun praying the moment that the receptionist
informed us of Elias’ missing status. I
had no panic, no anxiety. I knew his
Heavenly Father was with him and that I did not need to fear. I knew it was a large hospital and I did not
know how long he had been missing, but I would not fear. It was instant grace for a mother to walk
with her 13 year old to his x-rays and let others search for her missing 3 year
old.
Then we heard over the loud speaker, “Would the three
year old, Elias, in the blue shirt with the bear please return to the Shands area
desk.” I stopped in mid stride. I looked at Jackson and I grabbed his
arm. “Jackson, we need to pray, right
now. We need to pray that they find
him.” So we prayed. I prayed through all of my panic and
fear. I prayed Elias into Jesus’ hands.
After I walked Jackson to the x-ray waiting room, I let
the receptionist know I needed to find my husband, that missing child was my
son. I looked at Jackson and told him
Dad or I would be right back. And I
walked as fast as I could in my leg brace and kept on praying. They
made that announcement because Chris couldn’t find him. This is not good, Lord. Help me.
As I walked through the door into the waiting area of the
Shands wing, I found my family. Their
backs were all turned to me and so I looked at the floor. I knew what everyone’s shoes looked
like. I was looking for a pair of little
blue crocs. Then I saw right in front of
Chris, a pair of little blue crocs. My
internal sigh of relief was huge. It’s going to be ok now. We are all together. Thank you, God.
“Ok, Chris, you go be with Jackson. I will stay here with the kids. I am not leaving them. You came to be with Jackson. Go.”
He went. I stayed.
I comforted Bella, who did not know if she had done the
right thing. I told her I was so proud
of her and that she absolutely did the right thing. She smiled a big smile. She had passed that test. I thanked the nurse who had found Elias, and
then I heard the story.
The boys were all enamored with the electric trains and
were watching the model train set along with some other children when a few
preschoolers about Elias’ age came running down the walkway. Elias was drawn to them and their play and
just ran off along with them. He had
gone down one hall, into the next, and had found the entrance to the hospital. He was running around in the vestibule. He was calling and looking for me.
A lot of people come in and out of those doors.
One can also see right through those
doors to the large playground across a driveway. God protected Elias from the wrong kind of
people and from running into a busy driveway.
We were of course, incredibly thankful for the staff of
A.I. DuPont, for their diligence and help.
I decided to take the children back to the entrance area for a snack and
a quick visit to the playground before we went back to wait for Jackson. It was fun for them and I was able to breathe
a little easier.
When we came back to our seats in the waiting area,
Jackson and Chris were coming out to find us.
It was all over. Just like
that. Elias had been found, Jackson had
just seen the former head of pediatric orthopedics at the best pediatric
orthopedic hospital in the country, and now we could go home.
I went over to the receptionist that had been so helpful
to us and thanked her again before leaving. “Oh, don’t even mention it. We are everybody’s aunt around here. We watch out for each other. He is just like the Duke. You can’t tell him anything. He just walks around like he owns the
place. He knows who he is and he knows
what he wants and you can’t tell him no.”
I laughed at the mental picture I had in my mind. My three year old with his blond locks
jumping into an orange 1969 Dodge Charger with the rebel flag painted on the
roof. Yes, handsome and nice, but a
rebel none the less. Um, I don’t think so. We will
be working on this behavior when we get home! Maybe “the Duke” will stick
though. It’s kind of cute.
As we walked down the colorful hallway, passing all kinds
of children in wheel chairs, Chris and Jackson told me his prognosis. They could do surgery to correct his foot
and leg, but there was no need. Just
orthotics in good shoes, and come back in 6 months. That’s it.
I held Chris’ hand and I said, “Well, we had our missing
son in Jerusalem moment. Not quite the
same, but it reminded me of that story.”
Chris was silent. He was processing
the days’ events. I just squeezed his
hand tighter. The more he loves his
children the more he feels the weight of the “what could have beens.”
As I walked to the car with my family, I wondered why I
had not panicked more, why I had not rushed off to find my son right away. Because
I knew who was with him. There is no one
I would rather be with my son than God.
I do not need to fear because I know that God is with him. And He will
always be with him.
There will be a time when I will not be there to hold his
hand, to take him to the bathroom, to help him find his way. But when that time comes, I will not be
afraid. His Heavenly Father will be with
him and with me. God will guide and
protect my son and He will comfort and help my heart as I let him go. He will tell me it will be ok. “Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?” And I too will treasure up all of these things
in my heart.
~
Your Fellow Sojourner
“Now his
parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the
Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to
custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but
supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began
to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they
did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After
three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were
amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw
him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you
treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in
great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they
did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with
them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother
treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor
with God and man.” Luke 2:41-52
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| Everyone is ready to go home. The infamous train table is in the background. |
