I fought back tears as they walked across the stage and stood in line for everyone to see. My boy, my big man, was leading the way. He walked quickly and with purpose. I could tell he had his "proud face" on. Some of the others walked quickly. Others shuffled slowly. One was in a wheelchair. One used a cane, and moved his arms in jerking motions to propel himself across the stage to his place in line. Two of the girls came out holding hands. All were dressed up for the occasion in their best holiday attire.
If you have children, then you know how excited they get before they perform in any type of program...especially if it's in front of their parents. They look forward to it for weeks. They are nervous, anxious, excited.
That's where we were...but these weren't "kids," like you might be thinking. They were adults. Our children, yes, but much more than that...they were young men and women with ideas, opinions and dreams all their own; my son and his friends from his Therapeutic Recreation groups.
They are all different, the ones in this group. Some have labels like "Cerebral Palsy," but some do not. All are intellectually challenged to some degree, and most have physical difficulties as well. There are several who have Down Syndrome, like my Joshua, and while those individuals have some physical characteristics that are similar, they are all very different. Shy, out-going, talkative, friendly, sweet, grumpy. Some need more assistance than others. Some are pleasant and compliant, while others seem to LIVE to cause trouble and irritate others. Not unlike people in our own work environments, or our churches...even in our families! Not unlike...ME. And yet, here they were, working together. Taking turns, being supportive. Our own little Christmas miracle! (wink!)
I don't know who first had the idea for the Christmas program. It was brought up in one of the many "brainstorming" sessions Joshua and his friends had at the "Center." But once it was brought up, it took on a life of it's own. There was practice and more practice...and rewriting, finding props, costumes, and shopping for dressy clothes for the big night.
You have never seen a group more excited. Or nervous. And my son? My big man? They told me he led a prayer for the group backstage before the program started that night...a prayer for peace, and for nerves to be calmed.
He was up first, reading the Christmas story from the book of Luke. That was followed by some songs and a couple of dramatic readings/poems. The main program was that they acted out The Gift of the Magi. Quite an impressive group of actors there! Everyone had a part, and everyone remembered their part! Even the Grinch showed up at some point, and, since I'm writing this months later, I can't for the life of me figure out how HE got in the story!
But it worked!
And it didn't matter!
When it was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the house! And everyone was on their feet, cheering for this unlikely group of people...who did something amazing...who blew us away with their spirits...and left us with their incredible message...of HOPE.
"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." Romans 5:5
No comments:
Post a Comment