06-05-12

I am continuing to read, "out of my mind," by Sharon Draper.  My life has a wonderfully busy schedule so I am only able to read a few chapters at a time, but I always look forward to the next chance I have to read another chapter.

I have been a Sunday School teacher or served in another area of ministry for a long time.  I love kids...all kids.  I have been an advocate for children without a voice, but it is so important to me that all kids feel special, no matter what their abilities or disabilities are.  I try to see every child as exceptional and acknowledge that very child has a challenge.  Every child has something to offer the world.

One of my favorite parts of the book so far was when Mrs. V came into Melody's life.  Melody is in a wheelchair and cannot speak.  So far Melody has been alone with her thoughts for the most part, but Mrs. V has an incredible ability to connect with Melody.

The first time Mrs. V was introduced to Melody her father said hesitantly, "Well, Melody is, well, you know, really special."  

The response was, "All kids are special, Mrs. V had replied with authority.  'But this one has hidden superpowers.  I'd love to help her find them.'"

I love Mrs. V's response.  The reality of Melody's challenges did not stop the potential she saw in her and she acknowledged this is true of all children.  To be honest, the "superpower" in all of us, is God and whatever He empowers us to do.  Truly, the sky is the limit.  Some of my favorite Bible verses are, 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:10-12


So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:9-11


God has plans for us with a hope and a future.  He also will strengthen and help us.  Whenever I have a new student or friend, I have to take a minute to ask myself, "Am I hindering God's plan for them or encouraging it to come to fruition?"

06-03-12

This morning in church I opened my Bible to the following passage:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy."  Proverbs 31: 8,9

God seems to have me on a continual journey of understanding what it means to advocate and what it means to influence.  I have learned a lot along the way but feel more and more convinced that an attitude
of grace will make the greatest impact.

Right now I am reading a book that a good friend loaned me.  It is called, "out of my mind" by Sharon M. Draper.  It has been a great book.  It is written from the perspective of a young girl that is in a wheelchair and cannot orally communicate.  She shares all of the conversations in her head and all of the things she wished people knew about her.  I highly recommend the book!!  It certainly has broadened my view and understanding.  The young girl extends grace to all of us that have not walked in her shoes but also gives us a glimpse of the assumptions we make and the limitations we set on people.  With grace she has certainly influenced my understanding.

"When you don't get a miracle, be one." Nick Vujicic

     Tonight was so uplifting.  It was an incredible time of worship and ministered to my soul.  I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Nick Vujicic preach tonight.  Nick is 29 years old and was born, for no apparent reason, without arms and legs.  As a child he continually prayed that God would give him arms and legs.  He prayed for years and was very discouraged as kids teased him in school.  He soon realized though, "What is the point of being whole on the outside when you are broken on the inside."  He later prayed to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior.

     Nick shared the powerful verses:

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."


Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."


Philippians 1:6 - "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

     Nick was very honest about his struggles but he was also passionate about his love for Christ.  At times he questioned God about why he was born without limbs, but he also trusted God.  Nick has an amazing platform because of his physical limitations.  He travels around the world speaking to youth in particular to encourage them to trust in Jesus Christ and trust Him with their future.  He addressed the issue of teasing and bullying and said, "Do you tease people?  If you are, you do not know the love of God because you are teasing God's kid."  I loved that part!
     The phrase he used that stands out the most to me, however, is, "When you don't get a miracle, be one."   We may not fully understand the plans God has made.  We may have to wait awhile for our miracle, but we can be one starting right now.

     I encourage you to visit, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org

May 1, 2012

     I fondly call this school year, "The Year of the Butterfly."  After our class traced, cut, glued and wrote on thousands of butterflies you would think we would take a break, but it continues to blissfully be, "The Year of the Butterfly."
     We have had four caterpillars in our room, watched them build their cocoons, and now have watched the beautiful butterflies emerge.  We set them free yesterday, including the wounded butterfly.  The kids wanted to pray over him and sing, "Fly, little butterfly" as he left us.
     The kindergarten class had about 60 monarch butterflies in their classroom and they were gracious enough to share them with us by putting them in the hallway.
     Today we watched a presentation on YouTube called, "The Beauty of Pollination."  If you love beautiful photography and videography you might want to watch it. (The beauty of pollination
www.youtube.com).  The kids loved it and asked to watch it several times.
     I keep thinking about pollinators and how as believers, and as an advocate for those with disabilities, we are "pollinators" so to speak.  We have the opportunity to share the gospel with those around us and encourage others to minister to our friends with disabilities.  I am watching the children in my classroom continue to share what they have learned about how to be a friend to someone with a disability and I find it inspiring.  Their excitement, compassion, and support is as strong as ever.

A Teacher's Perspective

As a grandmother I am continually amazed by how much my two year-old grandchildren absorb, think about, and apply to their lives.  I think when you are a mother you are so busy taking care of everything that you don't notice the details, but as a grandmother I notice so much more.  They are amazing people with often more insight than adults have.  It is truly no wonder that God said in His Word that we must come to him with the faith of a child.

As a teacher, I marvel at the same thing.  I teach a class of five year-old children which from a distance are little kids, but how I wish you could have experienced this last month with me.  They continually shared stories of people they encountered with disabilities and what they could use to help them or the amazing things they were doing in their lives or talked about their friend with such compassion and empathy.  They worked so hard and continually sacrificed.  It didn't matter how much money they had earned, as soon as they had tooth fairy money they brought it in.

They have taught me to not be surprised by what God does.  Of course, He is going to provide BIG!  They have taught me to not sacrifice a little, but EVERYTHING.  They have also taught me to find JOY in every moment.

A Student's Perspective

Here is my first perspective to share with you.  One of my parents shared it with me and I thought it was pretty cute.

     "Tonight at dinner Hailey said, 'Mom, do you help people that have a disability?'. I said, 'Well, of course I would help someone with a disability.'  She said, 'No, I mean are you like Kathy (an OT) and do you help people?' And I said, 'Well, no, I don't help people everyday.'  She then said, 'Mom, you need to have a plan, like Kathy.  You should help people and then come in on Friday and tell my class about it.  So can you come talk to my class on Friday?'
     That's one smart kid!  Guess I should get to work on my plan!"

Perspective

I have missed blogging every day about "The Butterfly Effect."  I feel like a good friend has been at my house for a month and has now gone home.  I miss her.

It has been a great couple of days though.  Yesterday the kids and I received a precious letter from Joni, along with an autographed book that she illustrated.  What a blessing!  I never cease to marvel at Joni's paintings and drawings.  God has truly gifted her.  It helps me believe that I can do anything God asks me to when I watch her draw and paint with a pencil or paintbrush in her mouth.  

Today I started reading another book by Andy Andrews, The Noticer.  His work empowers me as well.  He lost both of his parents at a young age and lived under a bridge for awhile and now he is a well known speaker and best selling author.  More than that, he is influencing people all over the world.

Andy's book is about perspective and I think that is what I am going to write about for awhile.  Perspective has a great deal of power behind it.  It can destroy or empower.  It can stagnate or affect change.  I look forward to bringing you a lot of perspectives on the issue of special needs.  See you soon...