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Sweet Lisa Leonard sat on the bed in our hotel room one night at Blissdom. She was talking about her day and casually mentioned that she was fragile that day. She then started sharing some situations that were a bit more difficult because she was fragile.

FRAGILE. I love that word. I can't stop thinking about that word and how it relates to people, not just items. It describes so perfectly sometimes our state of mind and our hearts. Some days are bad, some days are good, some are sad, some are happy but some days we are just fragile.

I know I feel most fragile about raising a special boy with special needs. While Blake looks so 'healthy' on the exterior, there really is so much of his body that doesn't work properly. We have bowel and bladder issues, sensory issues, and at times of exhaustion tough behavioral issues.

I remember when we first found out that Blake would be born with Spina Bifida, I would close my eyes and picture a little blue-eyed boy with glasses, leg braces and arm crutches playing in our court with the neighborhood kids. For some reason that picture in my head comforted me. He got the blue eyes, but doesn't wear glasses and doesn't need braces or crutches at this time to walk and run. It's interesting I only imagined the physical attributes of a special needs child. Never did I close my eyes and picture the fragile state my heart and mind would be in. Maybe because at the time everyone was telling me that "God only gives people challenges that they can handle."

I think many things can make us feel fragile. Not just a child with special needs. An argument with a spouse, a teenager that makes you question your parenting skills, trying to conquer an addiction, a long day....all lend to fragile hearts and minds. And on those days that we are feeling fragile a little warning does all our family and close friends a little good. It let's them know that we need to be 'Handled With Care' that day and that tears might be on the brink of spilling over. I can't think of a prettier way to share those feelings than by just saying "I'm Fragile Today."

That night in our hotel room when Lisa said that she was feeling 'fragile' my instinct was to jump up and give her a tight hug but I had just met her, so instead, I sat and listened and was thankful in my heart for her teaching me a new, beautiful word.

What makes you feel fragile? And wouldn't it be so wonderful if we were all 'Handled With Care' on those days!