Its one of those calls that a parent hates to get - the one with the voice at the other end of the line pleading desperately for help. What's a parent to do but respond best they can? It had already been something of a Job week - not that my troubles are anywhere near as severe as what Job went through, but all my boys seemed to be in distress. Physical difficulties, emotional difficulties, financial difficulties - it makes you feel so helpless when you don't have the resources or power to fix the broken places.
But this call was one I could not ignore. When I heard the angst in the timbre of the words, I knew I had to be there. My relationship with this son has been somewhat rocky. I am not sure if he knows just how much I love him, how amazed I am at his giftings, how proud I am of his tenderheartedness. Sometimes loving your kids is about being there even when you can't change anything or fix the problem or provide for the need or understand what is really happening. Its awfully hard to hug the hurting long distance. And "I love you" on the phone is not quite as meaningful as the little touches you can do in person that say it for you.
Its also hard to extricate yourself from schedules and commitments where you are! Thank goodness for the unselfish compassion of my colleagues who not only offered to cover my duties here, but promised to faithfully prayed for my son and for my trip. So I am making arrangements to go be with him, to find a way to his heart even though I already know I cannot make things right. I have no idea what to expect, I just know I have to go.
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