Sledgehammer City

Updated on January 31, 2012
S.H. asks from Saint James, MO
7 answers

Tonight, one of the regulars on this forum used a line which hit me like a sledgehammer.

She was using the line to describe how she felt about herself.

When I read that part of the sentence, she took my breath away. It was like being hit, & hit hard.

A complete stranger 100% nailed my life, what had been holding me back, & opened up a new world for me.

I have already sent a PM to "thank" her. I truly believe that my future will turn around....all because of her words. :)

& it brought back a memory: when my older son was heading into a major reconstructive surgery at age 9, we met an elderly lady whom I've always considered to be a Guardian Angel for my son. We had just left the dr's office, the bad news had hit us hard, & most of the surgery plans were in place. Our next trip into St Louis would be for the surgery. I decided to stop at the mall, because I knew time would be short as the surgery date closed in on us.

While we were in there, we noticed a very old, very nice Mother Bear. Her bearing was regal, & she smiled each time our eyes met. Finally, she approached my son & asked if he was okay. He was on crutches & in a hip brace....& he just nodded. She placed her hand upon his head, looked him in the eyes, & said a very softly-voiced prayer for him. She told him to "have Faith", & then turned to me & told me that she loved children.....they were God's Blessing.

The Peace we felt with her.....is how I felt after reading "the line" tonight. & this brings me to my question:

Have you ever felt Peace through another's innocent, sometimes totally out of context, words?

EDIT: my son was 9 with this reconstruction. It gave him relief for a few years, but by age 15, we knew that we were headed for a hip replacement. We had to wait until he was fully-grown & fully-mature to proceed. Had quite a few nightmare years in between, with him going off the grid & pretty much trying every drug out there to ease the pain. He's back with us, had his 1st hip replacemt at age 23, & now has FAA approval for his future career. We are very proud of him...& thankful that's he's returned to our Life.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks for the wonderful words & stories! Please keep them coming!

Oh, & the phrase was "I don't like to be seen". As I said, it hit me like a sledgehammer! It's the reason "why" I haven't moved forward with my plans for entering the office workforce & shutting down my daycare. I don't care about others' opinions of me nor my appearance. I have simply become a hermit....without ever realizing it. My involvement level with my younger son's extra-curricular activities is a fraction of what I did with my older son. & I need to break this pattern.....even tho' he is happy & so am I.

One simple line .....changed my life. :)

1/31/12 Thank you for the wonderful stories & comments.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.W.

answers from St. Louis on

God and Life has a way of giving you what you need when you need it. We just have to be opened to it.

My brother died when I was 19. When i was pregant with my son I was having a hard time and they did not know if i was going to carry him full term. I had a dream and it was so real i could have sworn I was awake. My brother was holding my hand, and told me not to worry that everything would be ok and that the babay i was carring would be a happy health baby boy.
Mind you, no one knew the sex of the baby at the time, I wasn't far enough along to tell. Throught the rest of my pregancy i had this peace and knowledge that everything would be just fine. I carried my son to full term and today he is a happy, health, handson college student.

4 moms found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

one time yes, I think I know what you mean.
I was sitting in an Airplane on my way to Morocco. I was having a mid life crisis after my divorce. I had severe anxiety all my life, my world was closing in on me. I found out my mother was terminally ill with cancer, my siblings were in crisis in there own lives, and I was feeling like I was just slowing dying.
A friend of mine suggested I meet my fears. I went to a shrink that basically said the same thing. He gave me a book and in the first chapter there was some profound relief for me. I summoned the courage to go on a life quest.
After the plan to New York and then waiting there for 4 hours for my next plane. I almost gave up and headed home. I hate flying, to the point of panic. The trip to New York almost killed me alone.
So I convince myself to get on that rickety airline to go across the Atlantic to god knows what. I am realize I am in a 1/4 full plane and the people on it are all men. Only the flight crew is female. I feel a little awkward and uncomfortable. I am in the way back. When this very vibrant, colorful man from Senegal, wearing chains and chains of gold, gold teeth, dread locks, a trench coat to his ankles, crocodile skin boots, Rolex watches, and has a thick african accent, plops down right next to me (rows are empty mind you) and pats me on the back like an old friend.
"mama I see you look verrrrry frightened, no worries mama...Cedric he got you in his hands" He opens his hand and in it a slightly melted snickers bar. I didnt know whether to laugh or scream for help. When he sees my hesitation and fear, he calls the flight attendant over and says "little lady, you watch us no, and be sure my friend here is allll-right k. You be her guardian" the attendant smiles at me in a quirky way and leaves. So I am trapped with this man.
BEST plan ride of my life. It was literally life changing, He told me of his people, his family, his life, his dreams. He told me everything about me in a nutshell with only listening to a few things that I had to say. That man talked and talked, and NOT once did I feel fright. He was mezmorizing. When the plane landed, he placed his hand on my shoulder, his hazy brown eyes looked deep into mine, he just said "M it will be alright, we will meet again next time around"
I can not tell you the soul lifting feeling cause there are really no words. It was as if I could breath, I could function. I TRULY felt he was right. Never met him again but that man saved my life. I swear its true. Time to time I think of him and I feel peace. I hope some day I do meet him again in this life or the next.

4 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

S.:

What an inspiring story! What a great way to start my day off!!

I hope your son is now fully recovered and all is well!!

I know I've had some sledgehammers in my life...I've not had my caffeine yet so they are in the mud of the morning haze!!

ETA: When Nicky was born. His APGAR score was a 2. He was purple. I couldn't hold him for hours. He stopped breathing and flat-lined in front of me in the NICU. The nurses and doctors removed me from the NICU...a TOTALLY scary experience. We called our Pastor...he came to the hospital, looked me straight in the eye and said God will handle this. We've got a prayer chain started. The doctor's said Nicky would be in the hospital for 6 to 8 weeks...within 48 hours, Nicky was breathing on his own. within 72 hours, all the lines/tubes were taken out of Nicky...and on day 8 we were shocked to hear that we were taking Nicky home. He has has two Guardian Angels ever since (that I thank God for every night!!)

THANK YOU! for sharing! Would love to know the line that woke you up!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.T.

answers from Chicago on

May I ask what the line was? Maybe it will hit someone else the same way?

Thank you for sharing. Love a story like this!!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.J.

answers from Louisville on

I am glad your son is doing good now. what a hard time!

2 moms found this helpful

T.N.

answers from Albany on

Aaaaw, what a lovely post! Many many times a mom on this sight has worded a thought in a way that COMPLETELY changed my point of view.

Such a shining moment for Mamapedia (especially coming off a rather, er, negative weekend!).

:)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

My brother in law said something that really hit me about 2 years ago; Sometimes you have to go back before you can go forward. He answered some questions I have had for a while now. God shows up in people all the time :) I am so glad that your son is doing well! So glad!

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions