As I began to think this past week about the song that reminds me most or makes me think the most about Monkey, it was hard to come up with just one. There are so many songs that make me think of both boys. I chose the song by Reba for Monkey because it’s one I use to sing to him when he was a baby. He was never really interested in the lullabies and to be honest I wasn’t good at singing them. So I would sing Country and Christian music to him.
The song is You’re Gonna Be (Affiliate Link) by Reba McEntire.
As I read through the lyrics again, there is so much that rings true in this song for my sweet little Monkey. I was terrified when I had him. I hadn’t been around babies very much and there I was with this ‘little’ (maybe not so little at 10 pounds 5 ounces) baby who now relied on me for everything. The first time I held him was amazing, he was my everything instantly. Nothing else matter, I was all about him and what he needed.
We try to protect him but there are times, like his diabetes, where we can’t protect but only support him. Monkey learned early that life isn’t always fair and that sometimes awful things happen to good people. He told us recently that he just wants to be a normal boy without diabetes and that it isn’t fair that he has to go through this. As a parent I can’t disagree, it isn’t fair but that doesn’t mean I can fix it either. In that moment I just held him tight so he knew I loved him and agreed that diabetes sucks!
My hope is that he takes this awful thing and turns it in to something amazing in his life. He’s one of the most empathetic people and I feel like he could help others in amazing ways. I hope when he decides what dreams and goals are that he finds comfort and strength knowing his mom and dad will be there no matter what.
‘You’re Gonna Be’
6 pounds and 9 ounces, lookin’ up at me
Like I have all the answers
I hope, I have the ones you need
I’ve never really done this, now I know what scared is
Sometimes, I’ll protect you from everything that’s wrong
Other times, I’ll let you just find out on your own
But that’s when you’ll be growin’
And the whole time I’ll be knowin’
You’re gonna fly with every dream you chase
You’re gonna cry but know that that’s okay
Sometimes life’s not fair but if you hang in there
You’re gonna see that sometimes bad is good
We just have to believe things work out like they should
Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me
You’re gonna be
I’m afraid you’ll have to suffer through some of my mistakes
Lord, knows I’ll be trying, oh, to give you what it takes
What it takes to know the difference between getting by and livin’
‘Cause anything worth doing is worth doing all the way
Just know you’ll have to live with all the choices that you make
So make sure you’re always givin’ way more than you’re takin’
You’re gonna fly with every dream you chase
You’re gonna cry, but know that that’s okay
Sometimes life’s not fair, but if you just hang in there
You’re gonna see that sometimes bad is good
We just have to believe things work out like they should
Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me
You’re gonna be
Someone’s everything
You’re gonna see
Just what you are to me
You’re gonna fly with every dream you chase
We just have to believe things work out like they should
Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me
You’re gonna be, always loved by me
Monkey continually amazes me by how strong he is at only 5 years old. He’s been through more than I think he should have had to but I also see how strong it has made him. He doesn’t know it but we learn from him just as much as he learns from us.
It’s all under control, just not by me. God gave me this sweet little boy; HE’S in control!