Ball Park Angels

Hi All!  Once again, it's gratitude Friday!  I am sharing with you a page from my Gratitude Journal; this happens to be one of my very favorite writings.  When we take the time to consider all of the wonderful blessings in our lives, we can't help but awaken the spirit of gratitude.  

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."  Peter 3:8

It’s true what they say – a little bit of compassion goes a long way!  My reflective mood today had me thinking about the many times that people showed compassion towards Malachi and our family.  It is not easy taking Malachi out and into the world. Physically, it’s a challenge to carry and coordinate all of the life-sustaining equipment that must travel with him.  Additionally, Malachi doesn't have the muscle strength to sit-up for any length of time; he can only sit for an hour before we need to find somewhere to lay him down to rest.  Given all of that, our family rallies and rises above the challenges to ensure that Malachi’s social needs are met.  One stand-out moment that highlights compassion was our family outing to White Sox Park on July 4, 2008.  My boys are big Sox fans!  That afternoon, the Sox were playing the Oakland A’s.  We had never taken Malachi to the ball park before, so it was a new adventure for our family.  We were challenged with trying to figure out where we would lay him down when he needed to rest.  I called the ball park a few days before to see if they could accommodate our special needs.  Hospitality told us that Malachi would be welcome to retire in a private room reserved for in the event that someone were to get ill.  The room had a single bed and was separate from the ball park itself which meant that once he retired, he would not be able to see any more of the game.  Although I was disappointed that Malachi and I would need to separate from the rest of the family at some point and not finish the game, I accepted the kind offer.  However, once we got to the ball park, things unfolded quite differently.   Once we got to our seating section, the Chicago Fire Department Paramedics came over and asked if we would need a stretcher for Malachi to lie down.  Malachi was able to lie down the entire game AND see it to the very end!  What a God-send!  One little boy came over and gave Malachi a baseball that he caught and another child gave him a Sox baseball cap to keep.  And the icing on the cake- Sox win!!!

When we remove the barriers that block our heart, we give a very valuable gift to someone in need.  That gift is compassion.   Thank you, God, for sending your son, Jesus, to model compassion to the world.

Thanks & Giving

It’s Thanksgiving time!  Time for families to gather around the dinner table and give thanks for the first fruits of harvest.   I love to hear stories of elaborate meal planning and creative rituals families have crafted to honor this national tradition.   I’m also grateful for all of the efforts and loving sacrifices made to feed the hungry.  I believe that this time-honored American tradition of thanks and giving brings out the best that humanity has to offer.  The season of Thanksgiving is a time for us to focus our hearts and minds on being grateful for all of His wonderful blessings –like family, food and shelter, and to bless others with sacrificial giving.  And although this time of year is deemed for Thanksgiving, God’s command to us is to practice thanks and giving all throughout the year.

“Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name.  Psalm 100:4

To that end, I recently witnessed the most awesome example of giving.  Last Friday evening, I invited two moms of children with special needs over to my home for dinner and a play date with Malachi and what a joyful, blessed time we had!  Emma, a beautiful little girl with a big heart and a vibrant spirit, took center stage as soon as she crossed the threshold of my front door.

“Dog! Dog!” Emma shouted. 

Emma beamed with delight as Roscoe greeted her with friendly wags and sniffs.  She repeatedly stroked his curly locks and instantly they became an inseparable pair for the remainder of the evening.  Emma’s introduction to Malachi was equally energetic.

“Hi!  Hi! Emma boomed as she gently stroked his arm.

 Malachi, who had been watching a movie in his bedroom, looked Emma up and down for a considerable amount of time before he said, “Hi!” back on his Dynavox. 

“My room!”  Malachi informed Emma on his Dynavox. 

“See ya, see ya later” Malachi said. 

He was eager to return to watching his movie.  Emma was not at all offended; she had way too much exploring of this new environment on her mind. 

 Shortly thereafter, Earl, a shy little boy with big brown eyes and a wide grin, joined the party.  Like Malachi, Earl was immobile, so his mom carried him to and fro.  Emma’s mom offered to carry Earl while Earl’s mom got herself situated.  Earl easily accepted the transition; he wrapped his arms lovingly around her neck and nestled his head gingerly on her shoulder for a cuddle-hug.  Throughout the evening, the children took their time getting to know one another.  Emma and Malachi “talked” to one another on their Dynvox.  Malachi and Earl communicated through eye gazing.  And Emma and Earl created a communication between themselves that was a mix of Emma’s unrecognizable babble and Earl’s huge smiles.  For all of the challenges these children carried, unconditional love was not one of them; they gave all of themselves to one another.  It’s as if their differences were invisible to one another.  They found a way to communicate acceptance and love.

 After dinner, the children sat in the front room watching, The Lion King on the big flat screen TV.  Malachi was stretched out on the sofa and Emma and Earl were sitting on the floor.  Emma was “chatting” Earl up and he was loving it! Periodically, his mouth broke out into a big, beautiful smile and his eyes danced with delight.  Without any hesitation, Emma reached over to Earl and wiped his mouth with his bib.  And a moment later, Emma reached back to pat Malachi on his leg.  He glanced at her and blinked yes – “Yes, we are showing the world the value of thanks and giving.”

 

“It is not our differences that divide us.  It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.”  Audrey Lord

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012!