Walking around with these big brains, you’d think we would be able to retain some animal memory of our mortality. But, most of the time we don’t give it a second thought. Maybe there is something to do with surviving in the ability to NOT think about it. We have all of this access to modern medicine, and through our youth (or relative youth) we have this unspoken faith that everything will turn out fine… most of the time.

My youngest son was ill this week. His temperature ranged from 103 to 105 (F) for 5 days. We made the obligatory trip to the doctor. We medicated the fever when it got too high. We even used cool cloths on his forehead and back to bring his temperature down. It was a long week, a week that made me think about mortality and the fragile bodies that contain our spirits. Because for all of our medicine, hospitals, and doctors… things still happen. Fevers spike in the middle of the night. So many illnesses cannot yet be cured. Sudden accidents sweep loved ones away in a moment.

My son’s fever broke last night… he is still sleeping this morning (late) and I just went to check on him and make sure he’s still breathing. Something I did often in my momma-panic-mode when he was a newborn, but hardly ever do anymore. I am taking a moment to be thankful for his health, my health and yours.