Fragile: Handle with Care

My son and daughter-in-law have attempted to help their three-year-old son Evan understand that Nana is fragile and can’t handle being tackled or jumped on, like Daddy and Papaw can.

Evan is catching on to the concept of fragility quite well.  One day he told his mommy, “Nana is fragile.  She’s old, like Panda.”

Yes, it’s funny and I take no offense, but our fourteen-year-old lab Panda is, in my opinion, far more fragile than me.  Poor girl has lost most of her sight and hearing and depends on smell to locate where she is and who is present.  Her spindled legs spread-eagle on her when she walks on tile or hardwood—her Bambi-on-ice impression.  Famous for her jumping ability, she now collapses in a lump on the floor when attempting to leap onto our bed and the sofa. 

Just this week, Evan and his two-year-old brother Josh stayed with my husband and me for a few days.  Seeing stick-it notepads on my desk, Evan asked to have some.  He then proceeded to plaster the notes everywhere.  I didn’t see the pattern until he stuck one on my leg.  He was marking everything in the house that was fragile!  His accuracy was amazing: TV screen, china cabinet, glass top tables, decorative items—and Nana.

During Invisible Illness Week—September 12-18—we hope to raise awareness regarding the difficulties people face when dealing with chronic pain and illness.  My precious Evan is far more aware than most adults. 

I hope you will follow Evan’s admirable example and increase your awareness of invisible illness and how you can support those who deal daily with chronic illness and pain.

Check out invisibleillnessweek.com today.

If you are dealing with a chronic illness and pain, Rest Ministries—an online support ministry—invites you to explore restministries.com and get connected with other people who understand what you are going through.

You don’t have to be old, like Panda—just fragile.