When Bad Nights Inspire Warm Memories

by Lois Flowers

Little Molly was sick, but not enough to warrant ER-in-the-middle-of-the-night concern. At least we didn’t think so at the time. Her cough was thick and her breathing quick, but not so fast as to be alarmed.

bench with pillows

As the hours passed, her symptoms worsened. Had it been daytime, I would have taken her to the pediatrician, or at least called the office for advice from the nurse. But it was late, and at that point in our parenting journey, we had no experience with after-hours clinics.

When her fever hit 103, though, I called our insurance company’s emergency nursing hotline. If her fever goes above 104, take her to the ER, the nurse calmly told me.

Thankfully, it never got that high. But Molly was miserable. Sleep was out of the question, at least for awhile.

On a recent trip to the library, we had checked out a Jay Jay the Jet Plane video. Jay Jay’s not the most exciting entertainer on the planet, but that’s what we had, so that’s what we put in the DVD player when we went downstairs to the den to pass the wakeful hours that night.

I sprawled in the chair, legs outstretched on the ottoman. Molly lay on top of me, well positioned to watch the video. I dozed while she watched, on and on. I don’t recall how long we stayed like that—maybe hours, maybe not. I eventually took her back to bed, where she finally fell asleep.

I also went to bed, knowing that our morning plans would include the earliest appointment we could get at our pediatrician’s office.

You always know it was more serious than you originally thought when the doctor says, “It’s a good thing you brought her in this morning.” Molly felt much better after a breathing treatment, and we went home with a diagnosis of cold-induced asthma and our own personal nebulizer.

All these years later, we could second guess ourselves, wonder if we should have done things differently or even feel guilty about how we handled the situation. But we don’t. Not really.

We did what we thought best, based on the information we had at the time. Given new information, and guided by a wonderful pediatrician who has asthma herself, we handle her symptoms differently now.

That’s part of life, part of a parent’s learning curve. But still, I doubt neither Randy nor I will ever forget it.

Not surprisingly, this experience also is securely stored in Molly’s long-term memory bank, but maybe not for the most obvious reasons.

Long after she passed the target age for Jay Jay the Jet Plane, she would occasionally check out another one of his videos when we went to the library. And knowing my daughter like I do, I have a little theory about why she did this.

It wasn’t her great love of animated airplanes or cheesy children’s videos that made her do it. Nor was it to help her remember how truly sick and miserable she was that night.

I think she brought Jay Jay home because, on some subconscious level, it represented those hours of comfort, love and closeness the two of us experienced that night in the den.

I feel the same way when I look at my grocery list spreadsheet (yes, I do have one) and see little notes I typed for Randy when he did the shopping while I was recovering from surgery several years ago.

Next to grapes: “Make sure they are firm.”

Next to cheese: “Ask Molly, she knows.”

Those notes could remind me of how my scheduled out-patient surgery resulted in a five-day stay in the hospital, and the frustration I felt while I was lying there waiting for my intestines to fuse back together after some of them were unexpectedly removed.

Instead, they remind me of how lovingly Randy cared for me and the girls while I was recovering.

This has nothing to do with rose-colored glasses or half-full glasses (although Molly and I both trend toward the latter when it comes to our outlook on life).

It’s about finding the blessings in the hard, subconsciously and intentionally.

Lois Flowers

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Grace & Truth, Kelly Balarie at Purposeful Faith, Jennifer Dukes Lee at #TellHisStory and Holley Gerth at Coffee for Your Heart.

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16 comments

Dawn November 20, 2015 - 9:38 am

I loved reading this story. Yes, parenting requires lots of extra grace- and parents need to give it to themselves as well. Food, movies, music, books, smells…there are a number of these things that bring me back to times when I was lovingly cared for, that fill me with gratitude when I’m reminded.

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Lois Flowers November 20, 2015 - 10:01 am

I love it when that happens, Dawn. Especially when it’s a situation that wouldn’t normally prompt warm feelings, and yet, there they are! Blessings to you today!

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Becky Hastings November 18, 2015 - 11:12 am

I love how you talk about that learning curve of parenting. It can feel like a switchback sometimes, but He gets us where we need to be. Visiting from Coffee For Your Heart today!

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Lois Flowers November 18, 2015 - 12:55 pm

Yes He does, Becky. I’m so thankful for the wisdom, guidance and protection God provides us on this journey we call parenting! Thanks for stopping by …

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Betsy De Cruz November 18, 2015 - 9:16 am

Thanks for sharing your story, Lois. I’ve also found positive memories from negative situations. I did that night time nursing thing with a child who couldn’t breathe many times. My son had asthma, but praise God he outgrew it!

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Lois Flowers November 18, 2015 - 9:35 am

I’m glad your son outgrew his asthma, Betsy. Molly doesn’t struggle with it nearly as much as she used to, either, and I’m so thankful for that!

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Christine Duncan November 17, 2015 - 5:39 pm

God faithfully infuses some of our hardest moments with his simplest blessings… such a warm and tender post, Lois, wonderful to visit here today 🙂

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Lois Flowers November 18, 2015 - 8:23 am

Thank you so much, Christine. I’m glad you stopped by …

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Leah November 17, 2015 - 4:33 pm

Such a great story all about perspective.
There is something about the exhaustion and comfort of holding a sick little one.
Cheers,
Leah

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Lois Flowers November 18, 2015 - 8:25 am

I agree, Leah. I would prefer my kids not get sick, of course, but I wouldn’t trade the closeness of those moments for anything. 🙂 Blessings to you today!

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Trudy November 17, 2015 - 12:43 pm

Lois, thank you for this encouragement to find “the blessings in the hard, subconsciously and intentionally.” Also for the reminder that as parents we did what we thought best with the knowledge we had at the time. I know I too often feel guilty for not doing things differently in certain situations.

I’m sorry you had to have part of your intestines removed, Lois. I hope you don’t have recurring problems. Blessings and hugs to you!

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Lois Flowers November 18, 2015 - 8:30 am

Thank you for your kind words about my surgery, Trudy. It was due to endometriosis, which I’ve battled my whole adult life. Not fun, but not the worst thing a person can go through, either! Thank you for your encouraging words … I love to see your name in the comments!

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Tiffany Parry November 17, 2015 - 11:01 am

Such a beautiful example of how God knits good out of the bad. Those moments of parenting can be so terrifying when we feel helpless, but to think that God was weaving the threads of such warm memories and such rich perspective gives us hope in our present circumstances. Thanks for sharing, Lois.

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Lois Flowers November 18, 2015 - 8:33 am

Yes to every word, Tiffany! Isn’t it wonderful to look back and see such examples? You’re right … it does make a huge difference in how we look at today and all the trouble it holds. Blessings to you today!

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Linda Stoll November 17, 2015 - 10:28 am

Oh my, Lois. This brings back lots of memories … and my propensity often seems to wander to feeling bad for not being a better mother, etc. etc.

So like the enemy to try to erase all the good, all the lovely, all the excellent, all the praiseworthy.

Like cuddling in the night with a very sick little girl …

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Lois Flowers November 17, 2015 - 1:03 pm

I had a twinge or two of that very guilt when I was writing this, Linda. 🙂 You’re right … we sometimes miss the lovely and good because we’re focusing on the wrong thing. Here’s to counting our blessings and naming them one by one …

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