Shaun Groves
“Please I can have something?”
“What do you need?” I asked.
“Ummmm,” he said, rolling his eyes up and biting his lip. “Ummm…something to eat,” he said.
“You already had a snack and dinner is soon so no more food right now,” I explained and because I’m never quite sure he understands my too-many words… “Dinner is soon. Wait.”
“Ummm…”
I hooked him by the collar and pulled him in close, wrapped my arms around him. He rolled his eyes up as if trying to see the back of his brain, bit his lip… “Ummm…Please I can have…”
He doesn’t like a break in the action. He must play something, ask something, eat something. Always. “Please can I have…” Another elipses marking uncertainty. What is it he wants? He doesn’t know.
“No,” I said. “Just hug.”
“Please can I have…”
“Shhhh, you don’t need anything. Just hug.”
“Can I have…ummm…can I have…”
“Just. Hug. I want to hug you. Just stand here and hug me.”
“Can I have…”
“You can have a hug. And that’s all for now. Dinner is soon,” I said and I covered his mouth and he laughed a muffled laugh and writhed and murmured, “Please can I have…ummm.”
Across my mind played this morning’s first prayers. I stood in the shower trying to rise from the fog of too little sleep, muttering the day’s needs. “Amen.”
And off to e-mail, phone calls, a lunch date, a school program, car pooling, opening the mail, more e-mail, another phone call…
Lots of “please” thrown up along the way. “Can I have…”
Not enough “shhh.”
“May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”
― St. Thérèse de Lisieux
Jessica says:
I’m going to recommend that my husband use this tactic on me. 😉
Christine says:
I am sad as I read this, but also blessed that he has you and your wife, and that you have the Lord’s strength and grace for each day.
We have special needs here and what continually amazes me is that I never go to bed feeling like His grace was insufficient. Moments can be very hard, but as a whole, His presence is known.
I haven’t forgotten his needs and yours and I know so many other readers are praying also.
Anne says:
Oh wow! that’s me. Thank you for helping me hear His “shhh-ing”… I needed the reminder to “Let this presence settle into your bones”.
Zoë says:
Gosh that reminds me of when my autistic child goes through phases of hyperactivity and not sleeping. It’s exhausting and draining and frustrating :-/
The quote from Therese de Lisieux reminds me of St Patrick’s prayer:
‘I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to harken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me.
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.’
Amen
Lori says:
Shaun, I can’t tell you how much this post speaks to me. My husband hand an endoscopy/colonoscopy yesterday. The doctor had found that his stomach is completely full of pollyps. She has sent these off for biopspy and we are waiting in God’s waiting room litteraly. This part of your post was exactly what I needed to read for today. Strangely enough, God is filling me completely with peace. I have never experienced peace like this before. Would everyone lift us up today if you think of us. His name is Brian. All really is Grace. I continue to count my gifts with Ann Voskamp. I’m so addicted to looking for His Grace gifts, I don’t want to stop! Thank you Shaun for this post! Praise to the Lord God Almighty for His Goodness and for his messy, beautiful Grace!!
“May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”
Shaun Groves says:
Praying, Lori.
Katie Axelson says:
My senior year of college, I grew comfortable walking up to my campus minister and saying, “Can I have a hug?” Of course, he’d give it then ask what was going on. I’d usually say, “I just need a hug.” It helped. Doing the same to God ususally doesn’t mean physically laying my head on His chest and feeling His hand run along the back of my head… but it helps.
Katie
NancyTyler says:
When’s the last time I told you that you’re one of my favorite writers? You are.