R.E.M. Everybody Hurts

I came across this song on my ipod today.
I close my eyes and time stops.
It takes me to scenes of my past four years.
Like a movie in my head.
The scene of leaving our house the morning of Matt's sentencing,
not certain when we would ever be there together again.
The moment I watched him being escorted out of the courtroom by guards on either sides.
The first time I went back to see him behind a glass wall.
And then the day we realized he would no longer be able to see his son with the label he'd been given.
Matt knowing nothing of his son except photos and stories for a year and a half.
Sebastian remembering nothing of this daddy I told him about.
And then the day we got that wonderful news that he had received special permission to visit with his son again.
And then the sinking feeling of the realization that the pre-release date is pretty much a tease and nothing more.
And Sebastian crying in the visiting room because he thinks his Daddy doesn't want to play with him in the play area like the other daddys do,
not understanding it is forbidden because of the ugly label his Daddy is branded with.
And then the scene of Sebastian crying, leaving the visiting room, sobbing "I want Daddy to come home with us,
Why can't Daddy take us home.".....


The day dream ends with my son bounding into the room.
Back to reality.


Pain is universal.
I know this song may take you to your own painful moments.
That's what this songs about.
Relating and sympathizing and plugging away.

What this song doesn't mention is God's wonderful peace that passes all understanding.