Daily Reminders

Things I must remember to do every day:


  • Breathe

  • Pray

  • Listen

  • Love

  • Laugh

  • Breathe

A reminder to breathe? To you it may sound silly, but I often forget to do these things, especially the breathe part. Throughout the day I will find that I have been holding my breath, I do this so often that I feel I must need a reminder, even several reminders. You would think all of these normal little acts of living would just come to me, but they don't. There have even been moments in my life that I have purposely ignored each one of these requirements.

But mostly I forget. I get wrapped up in the attempt to carry on to the next stop. Get things done and move on. For me most days are a struggle to stay afloat. Some days I'm drifting on a nice raft, kicked back and sipping my tea. Other days I am overboard fighting the on-coming current while doggy paddling for my life.

Yesterday or today for example.

We got a phone call from the school yesterday to come and get Eddie...he was having a crisis and unable to cope. Sounds childsh unless you understand the way an Autistic will try to cope when he is overwhelmed, like banging their head against a wall real hard, repeatedly. Which is what Eddie had been doing. When we got to the school he was so turned inward it took him a while to realize we were there. We talked calmly with the school psychiatrist for a few minutes, all the while in my head I'm screaming. Eddie began to cry, a good sign.

I know that part of this is due to the fact that he decided 4 days ago that he was no longer going to take his medicine and short of netting him, sitting on him and using a long straw to blow it into the back of his throat like some wild animal, I've tried everything. Yesterday he started taking it again. There are just some things we need to learn by falling right down on our rears. Those are the hardest lessons.

This is where and when I have to remind myself, breathe, love, listen, pray, breathe, laugh, hope, breathe, listen, trust...

This is where I have to remind him to do the same.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.

Psalm 42:5

8 comments:

  1. Hang in there, Dana. You know you have a group of friends who love you and will cover you and your family in prayer - until the end of time! Hopefully, it won't take that long! :0
    Love you more than tater tots!

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  2. I'm praying for you guys! And lots of us need reminders to breathe.

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  3. just breathe!!!

    your family is strong and you know it. we are here for you!!!

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  4. My first boss was bipolar, but had decided years ago to go off of her meds. None of us knew she was bipolar until she just fell apart one day. But she got back on the meds and learned they weren't optional. Sometimes I think you just have to know that from experience to make yourself take meds for the rest of your life. Hopefully Eddie will see that the meds don't make him any weaker or less of a person than anyone else - just like a diabetic can't go without their insulin! Praying for you and Eddie!

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  5. i concur...just breathe....and know that even as we speak, krimpets are winging their way to you all the way from NJ

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  6. I know it is the hardest thing to watch your child have to learn the hard way. Hang in there - love you.

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  7. Some lovely thoughts. I teach kids who are on the autistic spectrum and understand some of what you are going through. Hang in there and pray on!

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and remember, words are my love language...