Can you love me as I am, or will socks keep us apart?
There was a church bulletin lying on my desk. The bold type read "From the Assistant Pastor" I picked it up and started reading...
The article begins "It was one of those mornings. Put on your socks, Ben, had been my command a few minutes earlier. You see, in our household, putting on Ben's socks is a ritual, an action never done with little thought. Socks must be carefully checked and rechecked for seams, for loose annoying threads or for anything that has the potential of bringing discomfort. The moment of truth comes when the socks are put on. Will they feel just right or should they be adjusted....or perhaps be removed entirely and switched to the other foot!!"
I started to chuckle. I've never met Assistant Pastor Dave, but we have something in common: children who find getting dressed a major venture. I read on...
As I said, sock placement is a ritual, and this morning things were not going well at all. I was angry. I didn't want to be angry, but I was. How can socks be so difficult to put on? I asked. His response was a shrug of uncertainty. "Get your socks on right now! I yelled. I thought I would be challenged and confronted by my strong-willed youngster, but I was wrong. "I need you to help me, Daddy, were his simple words to me. Ben's tears and his need presented me with a question of enormous significance. Can you Love without Condition? Can you love me as I am, or will socks keep us apart?"
I stopped reading, struck by the impact of Pastor Dave's words. "Can you love me as I am, or will socks keep us apart?" Socks---white cotton socks, brown socks with blue rings, dress socks, old socks, new socks, whatever shape or form they take, we begin and end most of our days putting on and pulling off socks. It may seem insignificant to most people, but in the family of a spirited child, putting on socks can be a major event, parents pitted against wiry little bodies dashing across the room to escape tags that scratch, elastic that's too tight, and fabrics that hurt their skin. Getting dressed is a major challenge not because the kids want to be stubborn, uncooperative, and free spirits but because of their temperament.
This is from the book Raising your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
This really touched my heart because everyday we deal with things like this with Daxton. Everyday is filled with struggles and challenges but...
I love him as he IS and socks will not keep us apart or anything else for that matter! :)
I love you my sweet lil boy!
