Thought we were in the clear

So many kids have been sick

lately. For months now, the

school nurses at Paige &

Hannah's school, and the

nurses at my school have

been sending kids home right

and left with strep throat and

the flu. My girls have been

miraculously healthy. In February Hannah had one day of fever

that quickly went away. Whew! Now Paige has had a fever for

three days, so no school for her on Monday. Looks like she may

have a doctor visit in her near future too.

Friday night Paige came into our room in the middle of the night

saying she felt bad and couldn't sleep. I gave her some medicine

and tucked her in next to me. I stroked her hair while the

medicine took hold and she was able to fall asleep the same way

my mother lovingly did for me when I was a child. I lay there

with tears slipping down my cheeks, but they weren't tears for

Paige. Paige will be fine. I will mother her and love her and she

will be back on her feet; THAT is what I am here for and I'm

blessed to do it.

I was thinking instead of a girl Paige's age that I am mentoring

at my school. A girl with a life so different than Paige's that there

is no comparison at all except that both girls need, want and

deserve to be loved and taken care of. This girl came to me on

Friday very upset. Her mother had been arrested and was in jail.

She doesn't know many details; doesn't know when her mom will

be home. She and her little brother are left to live with her

stepfather of whom she is afraid.

What if this girl had been the one to develop the fever Friday

night and to feel so bad she couldn't fall asleep? What if she wanted

to go to her mother in the dark of night for help and comfort?

What if she needed to go to the doctor and there is no one to

take her while her mother works her way through the legal

system to whatever end is in store?

Instead she gets to listen to her stepfather scream at her

and her brother that they're "going to have to go" because

he can't take care of them by himself. He does want to keep

their dog though. Priorities, you know.

So in a little while, I'll be tucking in my 15 year old and

telling her like I always do that I love her and I'm here

for her if she needs me in the night. "I love you, Mama"

..... "I love you too, Paige. More than you know."