Miracle and Milestones
Every parent waits in eager expectation of milestones. First steps, first word, first ‘Daddy’ or ‘Momma’, first day of school, driver’s license, etc. We’ve been blessed to see many milestones with our seven children. Parents of special needs kids also find themselves waiting and hoping for miracles. Often the two coincide as it takes a miracle to reach some of the milestones many take for granted. Last night was one such time.
We have, better yet, my wife has, a simple Christmas tradition. We MUST watch the movie Elf. It may be one of the silliest movies ever made, but every year we laugh and laugh. Normally, we wait until Brynna is in bed to watch movies, or to finish them anyway; she doesn’t typically do movies well. But last night was different. After about half the movie had passed, Brynna crawled up in Tammy’s lap as she often does in the evenings. All small children do things like this to rest in the security and comfort of Momma’s lap … it’s just a little different when they are 14! It was sweet, nonetheless.
Throughout the movie Brynna was uncharacteristically attentive. Apparently she LOVES Elf. She laughed, I mean belly laughed the whole time, particularly the snowball fight scene. While her TV watching is largely passive, this time she was actually watching the movie! But that’s not even the milestone, or the miracle.
When she was born she spent the first six weeks of her life in the NICU. It was several weeks before either of us were allowed to hold her because of all the machines and wires. By the time it was safe to hold her, she had grown accustomed to being left alone and didn’t really want to be held much. She always squirmed and wiggled her way down. Even now, she will sit with us every so often on the couch, but it is often short-lived. Except for Tammy. She loves her Mommy’s lap as most children do. But last night, last night something different happened; a milestone, and to me, a miracle.
You may think this silly, but to me it was a huge deal. Last night Brynna fell asleep in Tammy’s lap.
That’s it, you say? Yep, that’s it. What you don’t realize is that last night was the first time in 14 years she has fallen asleep sitting in our laps. Seriously, the first time. It was so sweet and so innocent.
God often blesses us with little moments like this to remind us of His great love and great faithfulness, of His tender mercies which are new every morning in the middle of travail and hardship.
For many this might be an annoyance or just another movie night, but to me, it was a miracle and a precious milestone.
We won’t talk about what it took to carry the sleepy child back to bad, but suffice it say, It took us both and there was much laughter to be had by all. Good times. Merry Christmas, ya’ll.
