We’ve had a rough start to summer around here. My older daughter spent the first week of June in the hospital with meningitis. It was a long, scary week that fortunately for us ended with a healthy kid.
But I discovered during the past two weeks that there’s nothing like a sudden crisis to put everything in perspective. Before my daughter went into the hospital, her biggest concern was the fact that her coach was moving her down a team in soccer. That news rocked her world. She was sad, frustrated, and angry. Many, many tears were shed.
I’m not denying that it was a big deal to my 14-year-old. Soccer is her world. But two days later, after a trip to the doctor for antibiotics to treat a persistent sinus infection turned into an ER visit where we sat and waited for the results of a lumbar puncture to see if she had meningitis, she and I both got our perspectives shifted. We went from worried about a game to worried about her long-term health.
In the past two weeks, my daughter has learned that while God definitely gifted her with some soccer skills, He doesn’t want that to be the most important thing in her life. Four days in the hospital moved her focus a bit to be able to see the things that really matter — God, friends, family, health.
We were all reminded that life is fragile. Things can change in a moment. And while our passions and talents are important, they can’t be all-consuming to the point that we lose our perspective on what’s important.
Don’t get me wrong, my daughter is still driven to play soccer. She still wants to improve and regain her spot on the higher team. But she also knows that not making the team is not the worst thing that can happen. She knows that God has plans for her even when she goes through the tough stuff. She’s aware that there are more important things in life than the game she plays.
I wish it hadn’t taken four days in the hospital to shift our perspective, but I am thankful for the opportunity to refocus our household’s attention on the things that matter most.