Train

A crash followed by a child’s cry is the worst sequence of sounds. It was set into motion by our child in the living room. We sprinted from different rooms. Our oldest child was on the ground. The Christmas train was on top of him. Shortly before the sounds, the train held stockings on the mantle over the fireplace.

The corner of a ceramic train car busted his head open. I know from experience that all head wounds bleed. This one followed suit. I packed him up, and we headed to urgent care.

Not many people, but lots of coughs. We hand-sanitized to avoid picking up any bugs. We waited and waited.

I assumed he just wanted to play with the train. Ready to teach a lesson, I asked him what happened. I was wrong. He made a Christmas gift for his mom. He wanted to sneak it into her stocking. But he couldn’t quite reach. He pulled a little harder, and the train came crashing down on him.

We finally saw the doctor. He got head glue, and I got “monitoring a concussion” instructions. We went back home to finish preparing for Christmas and a sleepless night of concussion monitoring.

Initially, I was upset with him. I was upset that he hurt himself. Annoyed that the train broke into lots of pieces. I was frustrated that my evening was being wasted in that germ-filled waiting room. How I felt about everything changed the instant I knew why it happened.

If the why alters my entire view, will I assume the best version of why? Can I understand before reacting? Do I see the kindness around me?

Be curious, be kind, be whole, do good things.