The Devil
I don't believe in the devil, although I often lay claim to devilish thoughts. They say that "the devil is in the details," or Flip Wilson used to say "the devil made me do it." People invoke the devil to mean a lot of different evils.
As a mother, the worst evil is to see my children in pain. Whether it is physical pain or emotional pain, it is the one thing that rips my heart in a million pieces. It is impossible to "fix" and leaves me an impotent heap of emotion. There is no "magic pill." Pain is a part of our lives.
Special needs children feel their pain multiplied on an exponential scale. They face pains that most kids or adults couldn't imagine and will never know.
The incision of a surgeon or the sting of a bully's words both leave scars on my children.
Deep wounds.
Pain.
The devil.
This challenge is over today and some may have called it "the devil." I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me use another part of my brain that really needed some exercise. I have enjoyed reading and sharing with those bloggers that were familiar and those who are new to me. I shall continue to read and enjoy you all.
While I thought about posting a picture of MWJ with devil horns and a eye-pecking bird (I'll call the bird Ziva), I had some restraint. Maybe one of these guys showed less:
A child's tear is heartbreaking. Beautiful photo and congrats on finishing your challenge. It has been wonderful to follow along
ReplyDeleteIt is that! Thanks - it has been fun and I appreciate your comments.
DeleteHmmmm. A thoughtful take on today's theme...unlike the rest of us who were less than thoughtful...well, most of us anyway. Okay, me. :) I have enjoyed your photos over the past 30 days and am glad to have made your acquaintance through this.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I really only had one idea for devil, so I don't know that it was thoughtful. I've enjoyed "meeting" you as well and seeing your take on these crazy themes. Your new blog format is intriguing.
Deleteyou are so right about special needs kids feeling pain more. it's awful to watch, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI knew you'd get this one, Sherilin. It sucks.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous shot of a beautiful child who should never know an ounce of pain. I wish I could kiss that tear away.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. You are so kind. I wish a kiss could heal the way we like to think it does.
DeleteI wish I could write beautiful comments like my friend Linda does. It's been a fun 30 days and I've enjoyed getting to know you better. Hope the devil never visits your family.
ReplyDeleteNora, I too have enjoyed reading your blog and trying to become accustomed to feline admiration. You rock in terms of sticking to a theme!
DeleteOh Amy. What a fabulous take on today's last and final theme. I have really enjoyed ALL of your pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Meleah. There wouldn't have been any pictures without your post egging me on, so thanks (I think) for that. I'm not sure if I should send my therapy bills straight to you or Mike and Ziva.
DeleteIt's been a fun ride and I've enjoyed seeing your photographs. It seems to me that over the course of time your artistry has expanded and you're probing images in ways you might nor have explored without this challenge. Nicely done, and congratulations on completing this assignment.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephen - you are too kind. I think it was more of a slow spiral into madness rather than expanding artistry, but I appreciate that!
DeleteOuch. You couldn't be more right. It's the one thing I simply cannot handle: seeing a child in pain. The emotional pain is even worse than the physical since some of them learned early on how to hide that.
ReplyDeleteIt kills me. I don't know about the emotional vs. physical -I have one with each type and they both have really suffered.
DeleteI agree with you that a child's pain is as bad as it gets. It's been absolutely horrible to see my kids go through sickness, pain in general and worst of all, emotional struggles.
ReplyDeleteMo, you have babies and I certainly hope that their pains have been of the "normal" childhood kind - like skinned knees and other ouchies.
DeleteAw...what a great photo. Although, I kinda wish you had have gone with the pic of Mike and Ziva.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have the photoshop skills required, but maybe I'll give it a go anyway.
DeleteFantastic photo. I love this challenge but I am not sure I could actually do the entire thing. Kudos to you. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am sure that you could do this challenge. Anyone that even tackles the A to Z writing faces a tough month! You should join the gang that is brave enough to ever do this again.
DeleteA great take on today's theme and fantastic photo but can feel the pain in the picture. To any parent, that is truly the devil.
ReplyDelete;-)
Thanks 00! It is the devil for sure, and he has been in da house today.
DeleteWhat a perfect way to end the challenge, LM. Such a touching post, and the photo is just perfection. I'd tell you that you totally win, but I don't trust you not to tell anyone else I said that. ;) Thank you for playing along, and thank you for the wonderful posts and photos you've posted. :)
ReplyDeleteWell thank you! You are so very talented and I have been in awe of your photos and posts. Really, though, I can TOTALLY be trusted...
DeleteWhy is it whenever you say "Maybe someone else did it", someone else did do it and that someone was me?!
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't anything worse than watching your kid suffer. Not even this photo challenge.
Oh, and you win. Just don't tell Ziva, Michael, Mo, Meleah, Malisa, Mariann, Tanya, Cheryl, Bryan, John, Mike, Katherine, Dozo, Nora, Kristen, Elizabeth or Nicky. Especially not Nicky. She's a sore loser. :-)
It boils down to "great minds think alike!" This challenge is nothing compared to most of our daily battles. Don't worry...I can keep a secret...especially from Nicky.
DeleteAwww - you made me cry. Yep...the pain of a child - when you can't take it away...is torture.
ReplyDeleteIt is that. Sometimes you just want to have something simple like a scratch to put a band-aid on and kiss.
DeletePerfect interpretation on today's theme, LM! It's been fascinating to see how everyone has worked out these themes everyday, and how every one has been so different. I think it speaks for all our experiences.
ReplyDeleteI agree Mike. Part of the "fun" was seeing the results each day and the warped or normal way in which each theme was depicted.
DeleteOh, great. Rip my heart right out of my chest right at the very end of the thing.
ReplyDeleteYou're wicked, that's what you are.
*sniff*
Great photo, though, as usual. It's been a blast having you along for the ride, LaughingMom. I only wish I knew your real name. Of course, maybe LaughingMom is your real name. Maybe you're Indian, and they named you after the first thing your father saw when you were born.
I'm sorry, Michael. Wasn't the topic, Devil?
DeleteIt has been fun so thanks for letting me play. I gave you my name and hometown. What kind of stalker are you?!? Take notes, man.
Reminds me of when my kids did Indian Guides/Princesses with their dad. My Indian Name was "Stag Nag."
I understand what you mean completely. The thought of my children suffering is the worst kind of evil I can imagine. This picture breaks my heart. Beautifully depicts the pain of a child.
ReplyDeleteThat picture breaks my heart, too and I know that she was laughing when I took it!
DeleteYour photo moved me to the core of my soul. It is beautiful. It perfectly depicts the pain and sorrow of a child. I believe the pain of a child is the most horrific of pains. You captured it beautifully. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this magnificent photo!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. I am just stunned. Frozen. You took a subject and turned it in to such a moving thing... you are AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteNow that I have some time I will need to look through all of your photos. That is such a good picture. It just tugs at the heartstrings.
ReplyDelete