another day, another (minor) surgery

so our son absolutely rules. yesterday he went under for the third time in nearly 7 and a half months. the doctor installed a sesame seed sized drainage tube in his left ear to help relieve fluid that apparently had built up over the past several months. essentially the procedure insures that he is getting proper auditory stimulus so his speech can develop normally.

isaac's attitude through the whole process has been nothing short of amazing. every time he goes in for something like this he is the same smiley and winsome boy that he is during happy hour at chevy's. nurses and doctors alike comment on how cute he is, and make return visits just to see him again.

i don't believe he makes a tremendously deliberate choice about his demeanor, but rather it is largely a reflection of the way his mom calmly takes it all in stride, even if she is freaking out on the inside. if there were a scholarship for outstanding moms (which as far as i am concerned there should be), annie would have a full ride to the ivy league school of her choice. she is nothing short of brilliant, balancing a slew of doctor's visits, tutoring, masters level classes and a husband who sometimes picks his toe jam while they watch movies.

given how freaking cool my family is, it is easy to recognize the goodness of God. every time we get encouraging news from the doctor, or receive unexpected help from any number of sources, or my wife shows up with a bagel from panera, i can easily affirm "God is good." and yet God's goodness has very little to do with the fact that things, by and large, have gone the way i want them to.

had isaac been born with a trisomy condition, or not been born at all, or if any of our news up to this point not been so great, it would not diminish the goodness of God. the fact that it has been so easy actually makes it easier to forget. often things born of adversity and refined by suffering are far more precious, way less likely to be lost in all the other stuff of life. in our convenience, we must work to hold onto this awareness.

below is a video of a family who grasps this reality on a very deep level. i must warn you, watch it in a safe place, for it will almost certainly make you cry. may we all celebrate life, and the goodness of God, as they do.