WATCHING GOD AT WORK

Established religion has made the concept of seeing God's handiwork in our lives and in the lives of those around us harder than it was ever meant to be. After raising three daughters up to various stages, our son was born. He was always a joy and I considered him to be an answer to my prayers. I had named both him and his oldest sister when I was still in high school, long before they were "a twinkle in my eye" as my daddy used to say. When he was a little slower walking than his sisters had been, we chalked it up to the fact that with so many spoiling arms to hold him it was no wonder. He was slower beginning to talk clearly, but he was always so expressive and loving we stayed enchanted with his childish speech. At age four we had an official evaluation done to determine if our son might need special therapies before he began school. We were given a diagnosis of dyspraxia, which we had certainly never heard of. We were told it adversely affected gross and fine motor skills, and that he seemed about 24-28 months delayed or more. Also he would be learning disabled because his ability to process information would be different than others. He would be able to learn, but it would be in his own way and his own time. The list went on and on, odd things, like he would probably not do well in team sports but would love swimming (which he does); he might get lost easily as his internal map would not be well developed. And that we were lucky because many children with the syndrome did not like to be held or hugged and some even kicked or bit, and our son has always been a "snuggle bunny." But even at just four, the testing staff were impressed with the fact that our son had already implemented innovative coping skills to do things differently. For the next several years he underwent many different levels of speech, physical, occupational and educational therapies. Some through the public school system, more we hired privately, and additional we had done through Duke Hospital.

Fast forward ten years, we have been watching God working in our son's life all this time. One of his favorite early pastimes was making creations out of paper, tape and crayons. So, later we started him in art lessons with a wonderful lady, thinking it would be fun for him. It was more than fun. He amazed us all with his talent and has continued to do so for the past five years. And this same boy who took so many hours of speech lessons, now loves to get up on stage with the local theater group and speak out lines loud and clear for all to hear in his big deep voice. All the former problems with motor skills don't prevent him from singing and dancing his way across the stage either. He is still awkward around the edges, what fourteen year old isn't? But he is a joy in our lives every day, a true blessing from God. I don't have to look any further than that to see God working or feel surrounded by His faithful love and grace.

Blessings to all.

ACCIDENTAL PAIN

Have you ever been with a group of friends, parents and kids all together? A cook-out, a party, maybe a lunch? Have you watched the interactions between the individuals there as the conversations change and merge? The laughter, the energy, and the interest as it spreads out among the group. When the seating is relaxed, the conversation is much easier and more varied. Sometimes when the group is broken up by awkward seating, you also observe awkward breaks in conversation. And there's always that moment when you hear that whisper meant for someone else, then there is accidental pain. Bad if about self, worse if about spouse, worst if about child. We are all struck by accidental pains in our lives and must determine how to deal with them. The ones meant for me, I let burn up in the atmosphere like falling stars. If meant for my husband, pretty much the same. But moms have this thing about their kids, and they think differently about the situation when their kids are concerned. I guess it is that Mother Bear syndrome.