R e f l e c t i o n s

  "It was so much easier when they were this young!"

       Reflections Of… Family!

                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione

If you have any adult children who live away from you, far away, you will definitely identify with this message.

I have a daughter, Ashley, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
She went there for college and stayed.
Got a job with an insurance company—seems like all of my kids followed me into insurance.
She has turned that job into a promising career as an account executive.
I am very proud of how well she has done for herself—but, she’s still my baby girl, even IF she’s 30.
There’s a fine line between “checking in” and “checking on” our adult kids.
I have to admit—I probably blur that line more than she would like.
But… she is so far away and… all I can go on is… what she tells me.
And when I find out that she is not feeling well—all the old worries and concerns and guilt come back to haunt me.
You see – I made sure that she went to college in Chattanooga—I really did!
I convinced the Dean of Admissions to take a chance on my little girl—who was 18 and fresh out of high school.
If I hadn’t pushed for her to go “there”, she would have stayed “here!”
And so… I blame myself every time she is there and I am here, and she needs her Papa!
And this was one of those times.
She has been dealing with some health issues, and she just hasn’t had the answers or results we have been hoping for.
I spoke to her Wednesday night, and she revealed some of her symptoms. I was immediately alarmed.
I cautioned her as to what they could mean. I asked her to please be careful and possibly go to the ER if she felt worse.
At 10pm, I get a call from her stating that she was heading to the ER just to get checked out.
Did I mention that I live 600 miles away from her? And she is going to the ER – ALONE!!
All of it just hit me—I sent her there; she stayed; I can’t be there for her; it takes 8 hours to drive; I hate flying! She must be sick to go to the ER!
All of it just ran through my head!
 I asked her to call me when she got there.
I got on the internet and found the hospital phone number.
Yes—I will admit it—I am a “helicopter parent!” = I hover!
I called the ER, and the nurse said “Sir, she is just walking in right now—give us a few minutes!”
My wife and I discussed the age old dilemma—“Do we go now? Do we wait to hear what they think it is? Should we be on the road already?”
We just looked at each other and started to cry. It was just so much easier when they were all under our roof, in our care, with us.
But…that was years ago… or so it seems.
Then I was suddenly hit with the sense that I knew someone who could be there to watch over my baby girl for me.
Someone who loved her as much as I and wanted her to be okay and would make her feel safe and protected—just like her own father.
Someone who would represent me in my absence and make her feel that “Everything is going to be all right!”
And I decided to call that special someone.
Here’s that call.

“Oh Lord, my Savior and Redeemer… I need you to go where I cannot and be what I cannot be… for my little girl. You said in Psalm 50:15 for me to CALL on YOU in my hour of need and You would be a very present help in that hour. You have also marveled at the faith of a few good friends, and I have faith enough for both of us… so please, I trust you to take care of mine because…they are yours! I need You to be me to her--- be her father, someone who loves her more than life itself—and I know You do! Thank you for Your presence in my life AND hers! Amen!”

And there it was… Peace that passes all understanding.

And I knew… no one could represent me better – 600 miles away!
They released her at 4am—and she is feeling better now, but…
I still remember who I called when I couldn’t go…

And He showed up—No Questions Asked!

Sharing my Reflections--

Brother “A”

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