You never quite know what is going on in the world of those around you. Most of us tend to look at what is on the surface but we miss everything that is taking place behind the scenes. Unfortunately, there are times when our ignorance in this regard can result in some pain on the part of those who certainly don’t deserve it. This is a case when that happened and it happened and perhaps one of the worst ways possible. Fortunately, the father took the time to teach one person and in fact, all of us a lesson.
Brent Gehring has a daughter who is six years old. She may be young but she has gone through something that most of us will never have to face in life. Very soon, she is starting her seventh round of chemotherapy. It is fighting a brain tumor and although you may not be able to know by looking at her, she is a very sick little girl. She can’t get around without a walker very easily and sometimes, Brent has to carry her.
Brent realizes that carrying around the six-year-old child may not be easy. When he has to watch what his daughter and wife go through, however, he realizes that won’t be easy either.
One thing that took Brent by surprise is that people are so quick to pass judgment on his family. It would be much easier if they would simply mind their own business. This happened recently when Brent took his family out to dinner and what he shared on Facebook is going viral.
“My daughter and I were leaving dinner the other night at Union Oyster House in Boston, MA. A dinner donated to us by an amazing business and friend that has been in our ‘family’ for years,” he explained. “When I crossed the street carrying her, she can’t walk without the use of her walker. A man yelled at me from 30’ away: ‘What the F*+k?’ He yelled. ‘Make her walk. That’s what is wrong with kids today.’”
Perhaps we have heard those words leave our lips at some time in the past. It’s the same argument that we have heard over and over again.
What many parents are not willing to admit is the fact that they are part of the same generation.
As you can imagine, Brent was very upset. Not only is this guy cursing at him and his young daughter, he is judging their parenting style. Brent had enough but he didn’t want to sink to that guy’s level by screaming or perhaps even striking him. He chose to do something about it in another way.
“I had a choice to make at that time. Can I make myself feel better by screaming at him or can I teach him something about life? I won’t lie to you and tell you that it was an easy choice but I got inches from his face, with my daughter in my arms, and quietly asked him if he was referring to my daughter. ‘Hell yes,’ he said,” Brent explains in his post.
In the end, the guy really did take a beating but it wasn’t a physical beating. It was in the form of a lesson that he needed.
“My daughter has been carrying my faith and my strength for the past 5 years since she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She can’t walk but I am happy to carry her because of all the amazing things she has taught me through the years. So I would advise you not address my daughter in any way other than respectful,” he said.
In the end, they had a good talk and they both started crying. I bet that guy didn’t feel quite so tough after crying in public.
“This story is only important if it serves as a reminder that you don’t always know the whole story so don’t judge others,” Brent said.
Brent said that he learned a lesson as well that day. It reminded him that good can come out of any situation.
“This post doesn’t come looking for pity for Emma or my family. What I am asking is for a change in today’s world… a change in the way we think. The world is what we as people make it. We have the power to make days better or worse for others. I choose to attempt to make lives better,” he said.
You can see his full post here: