The Strength of an Egg
The Strength of an Egg
by J. Freitag
Parents of children with a terminal illness are often referred to or viewed as having strength “like a rock.” Albeit flattering, it isn’t quite true. It is more like the strength of an egg. An egg, you ask? Yes! If you’ll think about it, you’ll see my point. An egg has a polished, smooth outer appearance, with no cracks or weak spots visible. It seems almost inconceivable that the inside might not be so smooth or solid. Most children, at some point are shown the famous egg trick. An egg set at just the right angle can withstand enormous amounts of pressure and cannot be cracked or broken. Yet the same egg, tapped gently at an ever slightly different angle, will break. The contents, once so neatly concealed, will come spilling out. The no longer perfect shell will be crushed. It looks so fragile that it seems inconceivable that it ever held any strength. A rock, on the other hand, is solid all the way through. To break it is almost impossible. If you succeed, you will find that there is nothing inside but more rock. It takes a lot more than pure hardness to hold the hand of hope. Parents of [medically fragile] children are not solid all the way through. We hurt, we fear, we cry, we hope. It takes a very careful balancing act to keep the shell from being shattered. “Balancing an egg” while running a household, going for doctors’ visits and hospital stays, keeping the family together, and holding on to the constantly unraveling ties of your sanity can be very tricky indeed! Occasionally, the angle will be off and the shell will break, shattering hope and all the neatly secured appearances of a truly fragile existence. Unlike Humpty Dumpty, though, parents of medically fragile kids will pick themselves up and put themselves back together again.
I don’t normally post quotes or stories but I liked this one. I feel very fragile most of the time, just like an egg. Honestly, the only thing that is holding me together is God’s grace. When Carmen was first diagnosed, a friend of mine who has experienced great pain in her own life told me that I needed to read the Bible like never before. I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t spent much time reading the Bible in the past year but recently decided to read through the New Testament. I’ve read parts here and there but never from beginning to end. I am happy to say that I look forward to each chapter and my friend is right, digging into the Bible is keeping me from cracking! Today I commented to Dave that I have started reading through the New Testament and he said he is too.
Recently Lauren and I stopped at a garage sale and picked up a sand art jewelry making kit. Lauren made a bracelet for Carmen. The picture below is Carmen wearing the bracelet. Doesn’t Carmen have nice pudgy hands?! It often strikes me that Carmen is so beautiful and wonderfully made yet her body is wracked by such a horrific disease. When Carmen’s geneticist first told us that she suspected Carmen had Tay Sachs, I asked her why Tay Sachs. She listed the symptoms- exaggerated startle reflex, developmentally delayed, cherry red spots, etc. Then she said, “She is beautiful. Children with Tay Sachs are always beautiful.”
Lana, I am reading this as I am about to go off to church. I don’t usually come on the computer this early, but I am glad I did today. Please know that you will all be there with me. I loved the story about the egg. What a beautiful way to express it.
Many hugs and many prayers are with you.
What a great description. Thanks for sharing that.
Wow, what an amazing quote. I often look at Faith and think she is the most beautiful Guatemalan baby girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Then I wonder why God choose to make her the way he did. “Special Needs” and all.
Your journey with Carmen, I can only imagine, is not an easy one. Through pain and hardship comes the salvation of the Lord.
The picture, while beautiful, does not truly do justice to what elegant, lovely hands and fingers Carmen has. She truly is a beautiful child!
I watched the movie, “Ordinary People” last night. While the circumstances were different (movie is about a family dealing with the aftermath of a teen-age son drowning), the issue of the “fragility” of every family member (and others) is addressed. Sadly, like the egg, some are able to withstand and others remain very vunerable. What a blessing that God’s Grace IS what holds us together – and is the only real strength we have!!
Sweet dreams for all. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/liz2008
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, I rate this article for 4/5. Detailed info, but I just have to go to that damn yahoo to find the missed pieces. Thank you, anyway!