Sitting in the middle of the couch last night. One child laying to either side. Heads toward the ends. Feet toward Daddy. Mary Elizabeth on my right. John Mark on my left. Before I could even start a mental countdown for the expected question, Mary Elizabeth stated it instead, "Scratch my back, Daddy."

John Mark, little brother never to be left out, quickly & with greater emphasis added, "and my back too-ooooo," as he rolled over back up.

Right hand for the right hand child. Left hand for the left hand child. Yet the back were too close & angles to awkward. Hurt my carpal tunnel inflicted right wrist.

How about a crossover switheroo then? Right hand for the left hand child. Left hand for the right hand child. Arms too short for that approach.

What's a Daddy to do?

"Kids, Daddy's arms don't work when you are this close," I said. "But Daddy, your hand was in the right place the first time," replied ME. "You do it, Daddy," added JM. "Mary, honey, I'm sorry, but that way hurt Daddy's wrist too much. I'm getting old & wearing out some, you know," I answered.

John Mark sits up. Animated now. And says, "Take a pill to fix it, Daddy." (Spoken in two syllables as "PEE-uhl." He's got a sweet southern Mama, ya know.)

He continues, his eyes searching his memory as his words spill out with conviction, "Pappy has a pill to fix it. You get a pill from Pappy & you’ll be all better. Then you can scratch Mary’s back. And my back too."

I wish I could.

You wish you could.

All the problems of our adult lives. The one's our kids don't yet understand. The one's we know they'll learn. But not just yet.

Health problem. Yes, there is a pill to fix that as the scenes of lovely people doing lovely things depict. Don't mind all the possible side-effects throughout the latter half of the commercial.

Work problem. Yes, I'd like a pill to fix that.

Relationship problem. I'd like a few of those pills too. Make sure the prescription is for the other person though. The problem is all theirs. It's not me. No, never me.

What John Mark, at three, has yet to learn is that pills do not fix everything.

People fix things.

God fixes things.

People committed to God, one another, & finding solutions.

Think about the one anothers of the Bible. Love one another. Honor one another. Serve one another.

Hard pill to swallow at times. Yet, just the right solution.