because we owe a debt we could not pay.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Noah is an autistic boy and this night, he was with his mom and dad at Adam Camp, a camp for children with autism, to help Noah learn how to interact with others and his environment.
A little while later it was time for the party to end. I thought this might be a potential problem for Noah as I was sure that he would not want to go. When I told them it was time to go they gave each other a quick hug and then she ran off to find her dad who was in a field down below walking with her little brother.
"What a great night Noah!" I said to him proudly while grabbing his hand.
"Mmm." He said. I could tell his mind was racing. I could tell this because when he is over thinking something he chews on his bottom lip.
"What was her name?"
"Shauna. She is my best friend," Noah responded. Those words felt really nice in my ears. I have never heard him so excited about someone else.
"What did she say to get you to throw your stick in the water when you met her?" I pressed.
"She told me not to be chicken." He smiled.
"How old is she?" I asked as we started walking toward the car.
"Dad," Noah said as let go of my hand. "I have to do something."
And with that he turned around and ran down toward the field were little Shauna was. I am semi-proud of myself because my normal overprotective reaction to this would be to tell him to wait for me. I did not tell him to stop. I just watched…and I knew what he was going to do.
She was standing next to her mom and dad and when she saw Noah she left them to run to him. I saw him say something to her in her ear. She smiled at him, and then I saw something I will never forget.
He gave her a kiss.
Sorry Little Mermaid, Spiderman, or Friends there has never been a kiss more romantic then this! It is frozen in my mind from here on out….
Once his time stopping first kiss ended he turned around and came sprinting back toward me. Shauna turned to her parents and ran excitedly into their arms. I caught the smiles on the faces of the parents…they were just as proud for her as I was for Noah. This was not pride because I think eight year olds should be 'smooching,' it was pride because Noah had allowed himself to feel something.
When he came back to me I gave him a bear hug. I asked him if he had asked her for permission to kiss her. Noah said "I told her I was going to kiss her…and that I was not a chicken." He was smiling from ear to ear and breathing heavily now.
I asked him one last question. I asked him "Why did you kiss her?"
"Because dad. I always want to remember her." He looked at me square in the eyes as he said this with complete seriousness.
With that response the needless part of me that worries for him was smashed into pieces. One way or another he is going to be just fine. He will find a way out of this maze…and when he does the world better look out.
I won’t be chicken either anymore Noah. I will not parent out of fear anymore. I am glad you found your Winnie.
He is going to have a life filled with wonder and joy. He may have lost some early battles…but he is destined to win the war. How do I know? Because he is the wisest person in the world right now:
Why do we kiss?
We kiss to remember the person we are kissing.
What a perfect night…and how peaceful I feel.
-John Roedel for Foundation for a Better Life.
A little while later it was time for the party to end. I thought this might be a potential problem for Noah as I was sure that he would not want to go. When I told them it was time to go they gave each other a quick hug and then she ran off to find her dad who was in a field down below walking with her little brother.
"What a great night Noah!" I said to him proudly while grabbing his hand.
"Mmm." He said. I could tell his mind was racing. I could tell this because when he is over thinking something he chews on his bottom lip.
"What was her name?"
"Shauna. She is my best friend," Noah responded. Those words felt really nice in my ears. I have never heard him so excited about someone else.
"What did she say to get you to throw your stick in the water when you met her?" I pressed.
"She told me not to be chicken." He smiled.
"How old is she?" I asked as we started walking toward the car.
"Dad," Noah said as let go of my hand. "I have to do something."
And with that he turned around and ran down toward the field were little Shauna was. I am semi-proud of myself because my normal overprotective reaction to this would be to tell him to wait for me. I did not tell him to stop. I just watched…and I knew what he was going to do.
She was standing next to her mom and dad and when she saw Noah she left them to run to him. I saw him say something to her in her ear. She smiled at him, and then I saw something I will never forget.
He gave her a kiss.
Sorry Little Mermaid, Spiderman, or Friends there has never been a kiss more romantic then this! It is frozen in my mind from here on out….
Once his time stopping first kiss ended he turned around and came sprinting back toward me. Shauna turned to her parents and ran excitedly into their arms. I caught the smiles on the faces of the parents…they were just as proud for her as I was for Noah. This was not pride because I think eight year olds should be 'smooching,' it was pride because Noah had allowed himself to feel something.
When he came back to me I gave him a bear hug. I asked him if he had asked her for permission to kiss her. Noah said "I told her I was going to kiss her…and that I was not a chicken." He was smiling from ear to ear and breathing heavily now.
I asked him one last question. I asked him "Why did you kiss her?"
"Because dad. I always want to remember her." He looked at me square in the eyes as he said this with complete seriousness.
With that response the needless part of me that worries for him was smashed into pieces. One way or another he is going to be just fine. He will find a way out of this maze…and when he does the world better look out.
I won’t be chicken either anymore Noah. I will not parent out of fear anymore. I am glad you found your Winnie.
He is going to have a life filled with wonder and joy. He may have lost some early battles…but he is destined to win the war. How do I know? Because he is the wisest person in the world right now:
Why do we kiss?
We kiss to remember the person we are kissing.
What a perfect night…and how peaceful I feel.
-John Roedel for Foundation for a Better Life.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
reflections in the morning...
children's camp and soccer camp as has been quite an encouragement to me. Talking to jeremy and seeing his faith and trust in God was a blessing. Thank You, Lord, for raising up the leaders. I find it so inspiring to see younger people (i am getting older by the day haha.) taking great steps of faith and having the Lord deal with them. I always feel that trials and obstacles are opportnities to find/meet with God and learn something new about yourself. Of course, by the grace of God, we will resolve the problem in His name and in His power. Watching the children play just brings great joy in my heart. I wanna have kids! I never really had the ability to reach out to them, to comfort them, though I'd love to. As I watch them play and laugh and cry, as I listen to them sing out to God or to their stories, I am grateful for that faith and innocence that they have. life can be that beautiful...
Heading down to both camps, I was given the chance to know and get closer to my brothers and sister in Christ. I am starting to feel the sense of belonging and familial love and security that I longed to have. I pray that I can give them back the same or greater amount of love, support and encouragement that they have given me. Thank You for the time that I can have with them and it makes me even happier that we will all meet each other on the other side (well, that's heaven) at the end of the long road.
I embrace my solitude and my loneliness at the same time. It gives me a great sense of peace and sometimes I feel that I am closest to God this way. It's rather releasing to just let your thoughts flow and go wherever they want. It is in these periods that I have the urge to pen my thoughts down. Alas, I can find no words. I should practice writing more and as a brother encouraged, find the subconciousness to commit my thoughts to Godm to turn the periods of solitude to conversations with God.
Like this morning.
Lord, thank You for children's camp. Thank You for this beautiful day. Amen.
24th June, 8.38am
Friday, January 02, 2009
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
2 Samuel 22: 26-33
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
2 Samuel 22: 26-33
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