We may get sidelined, or sidetracked, but it’s okay

Over the years, my 10-year-old Lilli and I have learned that we enjoy sharing exciting or purposeful videos.

I often hear my child giggling uncontrollably from the other room and know she will soon come and show me the newest gem she’s found. It has become a competition of sorts, with both of us attempting to find the funniest media to make the other stand in amazement and add to our joy. The other day, amazement resounded, not through a funny video, but because of I had an opportunity to truly gain a glimpse of the heart of the child.

As many of you have learned over the past year, Lilli is a recluse of sorts, centered on learning and excelling through education. Her competitive nature can at times be overwhelming, with her consistently attempting to be the pleaser. Many times, it leaves her confused as to why others simply don’t see the benefit in treating others with kindness.

She has adapted over the years, and learned she can at times go overboard, treating some with a lack of kindness, leaving her feeling down, internally beating herself up.

As we traveled to school the other day, I explained I wanted the girls to hear a song I had recently placed on my play list. Although not a newly released song, I had heard the song again while searching videos. The song, surely heard by many, was originally sung on one of the recent competitive television variety shows.

It was written and performed by a young lady who was battling cancer.

Taking the world by storm, the song seemed full of meaning and was generally a good, wholesome song about keeping your mind in the right place. As I began relaying my interest in the girls hearing the song, Lilli simply leaned back and prepared herself for the pending nightmare she would surely experience. Not being a real fan of dad’s music, she routinely listened, to be nice, but rarely enjoyed my taste in what surely were the best musical choices.

As the words of the song “it’s ok”, by the artist Nightbirde began playing, I simply sat back and waited to see what the girls had to say. To my surprise, both Lilli and Riy began singing the song, word for word. After talking about the song, I was amazed the girls had found the song on the internet and had come to not only enjoy listening to it, but also to take the words to heart and strive to live by them.

Lilli said the song was really good. As a father, hearing the words and watching as your children, at such young ages, able to live their lives with such a mantra was refreshing.

Understanding that life is inevitably going to throw things at us that routinely cause us to stumble or throw up our hands in frustration is an essential part of healing. Knowing and preparing for the events in life which set us back will undoubtedly allow us to work through those things better.

Sometimes, as Lilli, and I have learned, our plans in life are sidelined because of a multitude of reasons. Life simply isn’t fair and it isn’t until we recognize the benefit of simply saying “It’s ok,” or “I’m going to be ok,” that the process of moving forward truly begins.

I asked my child what the song spoke of, and she simply replied that it is about “being ok, regardless.” Oh, what a wise child.

Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from eight to 29.