Fish and Rainbows

For many of us, when we are going through tough times, we might be more susceptible to signs. Maybe we are subconsciously looking for signs from above to help us feel like God or our loved ones are with us. I believe in signs and think if we are open in our heart and minds, they are all around us. Helping to give us peace, a nudge at times, a reminder, or a "hug" of sorts. So I wanted to share this story about the hospital fish and our rainbow.

On the children's floor of the Duke Childrens Hospital, there is an aquarium outside the elevators. We would go for a wagon ride by those fish daily often more then once. There is a small school of little fish and two larger orange parrot goldfish. Charlotte would call one the "baby" and the other the "mommy" (or daddy if it was Brian walking with her). We loved watching them. The mommy/daddy fish seemed to fuss about the other "baby" fish often. Followed it around giving what looked like fish kisses to it. Almost pestering it. Early this week, we found the "baby" fish lying on its side in the aquarium plants. It was alive but didn't look good. Charlotte said "fishy stuck!" And indeed it looked like it was sick and stuck gasping in the plants. The "mommy/daddy" fish wouldn't leave its side. It kept nudging it and trying to move it. I had never seen anything like it. Tears welling up in my eyes, I somehow saw a small phone number on a sticker on the side of the tank. I called the number and talked to a man who cares for this aquarium. I told him what I wa seeing and that the fish was looking really sick and may not make it. He was surprised it was in the grass that way and how the other fish had taken to him, noting he had heard they were buddies. We saw the "mommy/daddy" fish successfully nudge the other out of the grassy plants. It swam a circle and went right back into the plants and started floating on its side. I told Charlotte the baby fish might be sick too. I couldn't watch any longer and we walked away. They next day was more of the same except the fish had moved across the aquarium to the plants on the other side. However, it was still looking like it might not make it. And I wondered if the aquarium keeper had been by. He was nice and concerned when we talked. And the emotional mommy in me somehow needed that fish to be ok. I know it seems crazy but I didn't understand it at the time, only how those 2 buddies needed to swim together again. Brian walked Charlotte the next day and also saw the fish still "stuck" as she would say. And then yesterday came. We went for our walk, and to our delight and amazement BOTH those parrot goldfish were swimming together healthy as could be! "All better!", Charlotte said. And moments later, on our walk back we found our doctors in the hall who had come to tell us Charlotte could go home. I cried. I smiled. I laughed. And I will never forget those fish and the symbolism I felt was a gift given to us.

Brian met us at the hospital after a work meeting to escort us home. And as we were driving home, for the last 15 minutes of our drive, a huge and beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. It followed us all the way into our neighborhood as we brought our baby home. Perhaps we need to believe. Perhaps signs are our own way of perceiving to find comfort. But I believe with all my heart, that it was God showing us grace and love. There is something bigger and more amazing out there that we cannot fathom and this spirit is watching over our Charlotte and giving us the strength and periods of calm and comfort.

Picture couldn't quite capture the rainbow but some of it's here.