The first time someone said this to me, and it's happened MULTIPLE times over the years, I thought, "I canNOT believe what I'm hearing."
We were at a thing with some people (vague much?), and this girl that I HAD JUST MET, started gushing over Baby Joshua: "he's sooo cute...he's sooo sweet" and all of that. I thought she was being a faker-von-fakerson, but hey...those brown, almond-shaped eyes, and that infectious grin, have sucked me in on more than one occasion.
And then she said...she goes...she goes..."I always thought that if my baby had to have something wrong with it, I'd pick Downs.
And then I punched her.
And then the conversation was over.
Have a good day...thank you for reading.
KIDDING.
What I WANTED to say, was...first of all, chick-that-I-just-met...there is nothing "wrong" with my child.
Second of all, you don't get to pick. And 3rd of all, shut your cake hole, because you don't have a clue what you're talking about.
But that's not nice, is it?
(Answer: no, no it is not)
I will have to say that some of this happened before I had grown into my whole "most people mean well" philosophy...when all I could think of was, "what are you saying...please stop talking...and, I want to punch you"
(Yes...again with the punching)
Over the years, I've been told one thing more than any other...I bet you've heard it, too: "God won't give you more than you can handle." And to that I say, "Ummm...yeah, He will."
Because, here's the thing: if you could handle it, you wouldn't need Jesus. Right?
You remember Job? All that he went through in his life...the unimaginable loss and suffering...and yet he would say, "God might kill me, but I have no other hope." (Job 13:15) He knew that, even if he had everything...He would be utterly lost if he didn't have God.
If we could handle everything on our own...death, sickness, loss, abandonment, abuse...how would we ever recognize our need for a Savior?
Paul told of his hardships in his life: beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, long journeys; danger from rivers, robbers, from his own people, from others; faced danger in cities, deserts, and on the seas; he worked long and hard, had many sleepless nights; he was hungry, thirsty and cold; many times, he didn't have enough clothing; and he had a great burden for all of the churches.
What God said: "My grace is all you need. My power works better in weakness."
What Paul said: "When I am weak, then I am strong."
I don't know anyone who has been through horrible things like Job or Paul. I'm using them for perspective...and as examples of 2 people who persevered under great trials.
We all have struggles and challenges...that's a fact of life.
What we need: more of Him...less of WE.
"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30
...finding joy in the UPside of DOWN...
Friday, October 16, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Joshua's Advice
So, this girl that Holly went to college with at Ouachita...had a precious baby boy last Spring. It wasn't long before some of my friends were texting me about it, wondering if I'd heard. OBU is a small college, so it's easy to keep in contact with people after graduation...if you want to. This girl was in Holly's same sorority (social club), and Holly pledged under her.
The reason why people were contacting me about this girl was...her baby has Down Syndrome.
I remember this girl, and I knew she was pregnant again. I had not heard she'd had the baby, or anything about it. Bless their hearts!
As an older mom looking back, I wanted to tell my friend, "Oh, how WONDERFUL for them!" But, I know some of the struggles that are ahead. These young parents are not in the same place I am now...because, with age comes a lot of perspective.
Oh, people sometimes call it "wisdom," but I call it "TIME."
And "learning from my mistakes."
And, "learning to see the big picture."
These young ones? Well, I'm sure they are feeling many emotions.
I thought about it for a while. Things are more different now than even just 29 years ago, when I had Joshua. There seems to be more knowledge...more acceptance of...more services for...kids with DS. I hope that's the case, anyway. I told Holly, and the friend who texted me, that I would be more than happy to visit with the family at any time...when THEY'RE ready.
I warmed up some "re-runs" for Joshua's lunch. That's what he calls, "left-overs." I decided to see what he would have to say about the situation with Holly's friend, and I tried to prepare myself for anything he might say. I wanted him to say his honest opinions.
I didn't know if he would say, like one of his friends did, that he wished he didn't have Down Syndrome. He already told me that the main thing he's looking forward to when he gets to Heaven is: "no moles (don't know what brought that on) and no Downs." I didn't know if he would talk about feeling left-out, like when his 4th grade teacher had the names of all of his classmates on their desks, but didn't have a desk for him. Or if he would remember about the kids at school who told him he "had a messed-up brain." I didn't know if he would want to talk about the things he didn't get to do, like drive a car or go to college.
You have to be so careful with Joshua, because he is easily influenced if he thinks you want him to say a certain thing. So, no "leading" questions...no trying to fill in the blanks for him...no, assuming what he might be trying to say.
I said, "hey, Joshua...a friend of Holly's just had a brand-new baby boy...and he has Down Syndrome like you!"
He said, "oh, WOW!"
I said, "what do you think about that?"
He said, "that's a pretty good kid if he came out like that."
I asked him if he had any advice for the new parents and he said, "what advice did you get when you had me?" I told him how my friend, Karen Alexander (Doyel), came over to visit after we brought him home from the hospital...about how she sat on our couch and held him while we talked. She told me, "just love him."
And how I thought, "well, that's EASY! Look how cute he is!"
(Joshua just grinned and grinned when I said that part)
Joshua said, "I'll go with that, too. Love him. And train him up to be a man of God."
And then he started quoting Scripture after Scripture at me, and I could not EVEN keep up. I had been trying to discretely type his answers on my cell phone without him knowing what I was doing. OH MY GOODNESS, my boy knows his Bible!
He said that the book of James says that trials will come, and that Joshua 1:9 says to be "strong and courageous." These are the two passages that I remember.
Basically, he said for them to train their baby boy to have the faith of Joshua-from-the-Bible, and to be a leader for his generation.
He ended hissermon talk with these words: "I turned out okay, and he will, too."
"I give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14
The reason why people were contacting me about this girl was...her baby has Down Syndrome.
I remember this girl, and I knew she was pregnant again. I had not heard she'd had the baby, or anything about it. Bless their hearts!
As an older mom looking back, I wanted to tell my friend, "Oh, how WONDERFUL for them!" But, I know some of the struggles that are ahead. These young parents are not in the same place I am now...because, with age comes a lot of perspective.
Oh, people sometimes call it "wisdom," but I call it "TIME."
And "learning from my mistakes."
And, "learning to see the big picture."
These young ones? Well, I'm sure they are feeling many emotions.
I thought about it for a while. Things are more different now than even just 29 years ago, when I had Joshua. There seems to be more knowledge...more acceptance of...more services for...kids with DS. I hope that's the case, anyway. I told Holly, and the friend who texted me, that I would be more than happy to visit with the family at any time...when THEY'RE ready.
I warmed up some "re-runs" for Joshua's lunch. That's what he calls, "left-overs." I decided to see what he would have to say about the situation with Holly's friend, and I tried to prepare myself for anything he might say. I wanted him to say his honest opinions.
I didn't know if he would say, like one of his friends did, that he wished he didn't have Down Syndrome. He already told me that the main thing he's looking forward to when he gets to Heaven is: "no moles (don't know what brought that on) and no Downs." I didn't know if he would talk about feeling left-out, like when his 4th grade teacher had the names of all of his classmates on their desks, but didn't have a desk for him. Or if he would remember about the kids at school who told him he "had a messed-up brain." I didn't know if he would want to talk about the things he didn't get to do, like drive a car or go to college.
You have to be so careful with Joshua, because he is easily influenced if he thinks you want him to say a certain thing. So, no "leading" questions...no trying to fill in the blanks for him...no, assuming what he might be trying to say.
I said, "hey, Joshua...a friend of Holly's just had a brand-new baby boy...and he has Down Syndrome like you!"
He said, "oh, WOW!"
I said, "what do you think about that?"
He said, "that's a pretty good kid if he came out like that."
I asked him if he had any advice for the new parents and he said, "what advice did you get when you had me?" I told him how my friend, Karen Alexander (Doyel), came over to visit after we brought him home from the hospital...about how she sat on our couch and held him while we talked. She told me, "just love him."
And how I thought, "well, that's EASY! Look how cute he is!"
(Joshua just grinned and grinned when I said that part)
Joshua said, "I'll go with that, too. Love him. And train him up to be a man of God."
And then he started quoting Scripture after Scripture at me, and I could not EVEN keep up. I had been trying to discretely type his answers on my cell phone without him knowing what I was doing. OH MY GOODNESS, my boy knows his Bible!
He said that the book of James says that trials will come, and that Joshua 1:9 says to be "strong and courageous." These are the two passages that I remember.
Basically, he said for them to train their baby boy to have the faith of Joshua-from-the-Bible, and to be a leader for his generation.
He ended his
"I give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Cheerleader-Friends and Treat Bags
Years ago, after we got home from Clark's very first 9th grade football game, he casually mentioned that he didn't get a "treat bag" that day. I had just spent 3 years helping with the Mom Squad for the Varsity boys, and we made sure every player, manager and coach got a treat bag for every game.
The kids at the elementary schools would decorate the bags, and then we would fill the bags with peanut butter crackers, granola bars, cookies, candy, roll-ups, etc...things they could have for a quick snack after the game.
Clark said there were a few others who didn't get a bag that day, but that didn't make it okay with me. He said, "Mom, CHILL...don't make a thing about it."
Like I would.
Enter: Joshua
He had overheard the conversation, and quietly slipped upstairs. Later, he came down with a big grin on his face. He was holding a white lunch bag that he had decorated for Clark. He whispered, "for his next game."
Because, y'all...his brother was NOT going without a treat bag. No, ma'am. Not on his watch.
So, for the rest of the season, Joshua would get a lunch bag out of our pantry, and he would go up to his room to decorate it. He started out writing things like, "we love you," or "go for a win." But, as time went on, he got more creative. He'd use quotes from football movies, like, "you blitz all night," "make sure they remember the night they played the Hornets," and "Stonewall defense" (whatever that is)
There was also our personal favorite, "spank them like a 4 year old at K-Mart."
WHAAAAT?
Later, he'd bring the bag downstairs, I'd fill it with goodies...and we'd "hide" it in Clark's football bag. Every.single.week.
I love that Joshua loves his brother...both brothers and his sister. He's their biggest fan. I think that we have all thought that WE were the ones encouraging HIM through life...but then he shows up, and encourages us right back.
You know, we all want a cheerleader in our lives. Someone who will tell us to keep going...who will pray for us, who will hold us up when we think we can't go on...who says, "hang in there...you can do it...I'm here for you."
I've had people like that in my life...just not here where we live. Yet. Just yesterday, I was thinking, "whew! It's been a long 3 years here..." but then God sent a couple of those cheerleader-friends who spoke life into me.
And, today at lunch, I met up with two cheerleader-friends whose stories made me laugh out loud so much! They also made me break out in hives. And, at one point, I started poppin Altoids like they were chocolate chips...but that's another story for another day.
Who cheers for you? Who do YOU cheer for?
I love the "faith" chapter of Hebrews. In Chapter 11, the author lists some men and women of the Bible, who lived out their faith during trying times in their lives. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham...Isaac, Jacob, Moses...Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, David...and more. If you're a Christian, this is your heritage of faith, too!
I can just picture them standing in Heaven, along with Jesus, God, the angels...and all of those who have gone before us...cheering us on.
Isn't that awesome? It's like our very own treat bag from God!
And guess what? No one is overlooked!
"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
The kids at the elementary schools would decorate the bags, and then we would fill the bags with peanut butter crackers, granola bars, cookies, candy, roll-ups, etc...things they could have for a quick snack after the game.
Clark said there were a few others who didn't get a bag that day, but that didn't make it okay with me. He said, "Mom, CHILL...don't make a thing about it."
Like I would.
Enter: Joshua
He had overheard the conversation, and quietly slipped upstairs. Later, he came down with a big grin on his face. He was holding a white lunch bag that he had decorated for Clark. He whispered, "for his next game."
Because, y'all...his brother was NOT going without a treat bag. No, ma'am. Not on his watch.
So, for the rest of the season, Joshua would get a lunch bag out of our pantry, and he would go up to his room to decorate it. He started out writing things like, "we love you," or "go for a win." But, as time went on, he got more creative. He'd use quotes from football movies, like, "you blitz all night," "make sure they remember the night they played the Hornets," and "Stonewall defense" (whatever that is)
There was also our personal favorite, "spank them like a 4 year old at K-Mart."
WHAAAAT?
Later, he'd bring the bag downstairs, I'd fill it with goodies...and we'd "hide" it in Clark's football bag. Every.single.week.
I love that Joshua loves his brother...both brothers and his sister. He's their biggest fan. I think that we have all thought that WE were the ones encouraging HIM through life...but then he shows up, and encourages us right back.
You know, we all want a cheerleader in our lives. Someone who will tell us to keep going...who will pray for us, who will hold us up when we think we can't go on...who says, "hang in there...you can do it...I'm here for you."
I've had people like that in my life...just not here where we live. Yet. Just yesterday, I was thinking, "whew! It's been a long 3 years here..." but then God sent a couple of those cheerleader-friends who spoke life into me.
And, today at lunch, I met up with two cheerleader-friends whose stories made me laugh out loud so much! They also made me break out in hives. And, at one point, I started poppin Altoids like they were chocolate chips...but that's another story for another day.
Who cheers for you? Who do YOU cheer for?
I love the "faith" chapter of Hebrews. In Chapter 11, the author lists some men and women of the Bible, who lived out their faith during trying times in their lives. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham...Isaac, Jacob, Moses...Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, David...and more. If you're a Christian, this is your heritage of faith, too!
I can just picture them standing in Heaven, along with Jesus, God, the angels...and all of those who have gone before us...cheering us on.
Isn't that awesome? It's like our very own treat bag from God!
And guess what? No one is overlooked!
"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Mrs. Deb and Sharing Your Faith
Before we moved here, we lived reallllly close to Wal-Mart. Joshua loved to go, and so we went several times a week. Grocery shopping with him is different than when I go by myself. We don't "run in" and "run out." No. We take it slow. He talks to people, and reminds me of the things I forgot to put on our list. He makes friends with some of the checkers. Then nice ones? We try to get in their lines every time.
There was one at our Wal-Mart: Mrs. Deb. She was special. She was friendly to everyone...but she was REALLY friendly to Joshua...really sweet, and genuinely interested in him. Joshua would start looking for her as soon as we walked in the door. He would make a mental note of what lane she was in, and we would get in her line when we were done shopping.
If she saw him first, she would speak to him, and give him a big hug...sometimes even stepping away from her line to do so. She treated him like he was the most important person in the world to her.
She got to know all about our family, and we got to know about hers. Joshua would tell her about Special Olympics, and she would always say that she wanted to come watch him. She never did...but she would remember to ask him about it, and he would bring his medals for her to see. She always asked him about Jenni, and we would show her pictures.
Mrs. Deb was older than me. She was married, and had a family...and grandchildren. She loved fishing...loved the beach...loved her mom. She talked about her mom getting cancer, and how she took care of her in their home. She told us how they kept a small Christmas tree up all year in her Mom's room, and how, even after her Mom died, the kids and grand-kids would pick up little ornaments and knick-knacks to put on the tree. She called it her "Angel Tree." Joshua bought an angel ornament, and we took it to Mrs. Deb the Christmas after her Mom passed away.
Mrs. Deb loved spending time at the lake or the beach with her grandchildren...teaching them to fish, watching them swim and play. One year, she went to Gulf Shores on vacation, and brought a cap back for Joshua. I was so touched by her thoughtfulness, because...really...except for our WM connection, we were strangers. He still wears that cap.
But a random thing happened with Mrs. Deb. She fell. HARD. I can't remember how...but she never could get to feeling better. She tried to come back to work, but it was too soon. She was going to take more time off to rest and heal. We saw her on the day she was leaving for her extended time off. It was obvious that she did not feel well at all, and was in a lot of pain...this is a lady who was ALWAYS happy. But she hugged Joshua and gave him a big smile...and headed out the door.
We missed her a week or two after that...but one day, I "ran" into Wal-Mart without Joshua. I didn't see Mrs. Deb, but assumed she was on her lunch break. As I was checking out, the girl mentioned that it had been such a hard week. I asked her about it, and she told me about one of their checkers dying. I told her that I had read about it in the paper. And then she said something about Mrs. Deb. I said, "she's okay, isn't she?" The girl just looked down and shook her head.
I can't remember exactly what she said...something about a massive heart attack...or how I got home. I told Joshua, and we prayed for her family...and we both cried. It was a profoundly sad day.
I believe that Mrs. Deb knew Jesus. We talked often about Him, and shared our faith with her. She shared prayer requests with us, and we promised to pray for her. But there are a couple of things I learned from this:
First, time is short. Don't waste an opportunity. There will probably be times when you'll have a longer time to cultivate a relationship with someone, but there will be other times when you just have a minute. A minute to listen...a minute to pray. Make it count.
I was also reminded that God can use us if we are willing. We don't have to be a preacher or a missionary. We don't have to be a doctor, judge, lawyer...or someone the world perceives as "influential." We might be a Mom...or a Dad. Or we might work at Wal-Mart...and it might be EXACTLY where God wants us...where we can be His hands and feet to a hurting world.
We sometimes think that, with our busy schedules, we don't have time to invest in the lives of others...but we do. As Christians, especially, we need to seize the moments in each day. You might not be able to make it to Tuesday Night visitation at the church...but you can reach people right where you are. Sometimes people just want to talk...sometimes they want to listen; sometimes they need a hug; sometimes you'll have the opportunity to pray with them...or for them.
It's important to be intentional in how we spend our days...to look for those people who are hurting...to look for those opportunities to be a witness...and a friend. Our pastor is preaching on this very subject this month.
I'm not sure Mrs. Deb ever realized the impact she had on others...on us. But here it is, 4 years later, and I'm still talking about her...and I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat when I remember her kindness to my son.
God will sometimes use the most unlikely people to do His work. Because of Joshua, we have met more people, been in places we wouldn't normally have gone, and had more opportunities to share our faith. God puts people like Mrs. Deb in our lives every day...we just have to be open to it.
Tell your story.
"...when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me." Matthew 25:40
There was one at our Wal-Mart: Mrs. Deb. She was special. She was friendly to everyone...but she was REALLY friendly to Joshua...really sweet, and genuinely interested in him. Joshua would start looking for her as soon as we walked in the door. He would make a mental note of what lane she was in, and we would get in her line when we were done shopping.
If she saw him first, she would speak to him, and give him a big hug...sometimes even stepping away from her line to do so. She treated him like he was the most important person in the world to her.
She got to know all about our family, and we got to know about hers. Joshua would tell her about Special Olympics, and she would always say that she wanted to come watch him. She never did...but she would remember to ask him about it, and he would bring his medals for her to see. She always asked him about Jenni, and we would show her pictures.
Mrs. Deb was older than me. She was married, and had a family...and grandchildren. She loved fishing...loved the beach...loved her mom. She talked about her mom getting cancer, and how she took care of her in their home. She told us how they kept a small Christmas tree up all year in her Mom's room, and how, even after her Mom died, the kids and grand-kids would pick up little ornaments and knick-knacks to put on the tree. She called it her "Angel Tree." Joshua bought an angel ornament, and we took it to Mrs. Deb the Christmas after her Mom passed away.
Mrs. Deb loved spending time at the lake or the beach with her grandchildren...teaching them to fish, watching them swim and play. One year, she went to Gulf Shores on vacation, and brought a cap back for Joshua. I was so touched by her thoughtfulness, because...really...except for our WM connection, we were strangers. He still wears that cap.
But a random thing happened with Mrs. Deb. She fell. HARD. I can't remember how...but she never could get to feeling better. She tried to come back to work, but it was too soon. She was going to take more time off to rest and heal. We saw her on the day she was leaving for her extended time off. It was obvious that she did not feel well at all, and was in a lot of pain...this is a lady who was ALWAYS happy. But she hugged Joshua and gave him a big smile...and headed out the door.
We missed her a week or two after that...but one day, I "ran" into Wal-Mart without Joshua. I didn't see Mrs. Deb, but assumed she was on her lunch break. As I was checking out, the girl mentioned that it had been such a hard week. I asked her about it, and she told me about one of their checkers dying. I told her that I had read about it in the paper. And then she said something about Mrs. Deb. I said, "she's okay, isn't she?" The girl just looked down and shook her head.
I can't remember exactly what she said...something about a massive heart attack...or how I got home. I told Joshua, and we prayed for her family...and we both cried. It was a profoundly sad day.
I believe that Mrs. Deb knew Jesus. We talked often about Him, and shared our faith with her. She shared prayer requests with us, and we promised to pray for her. But there are a couple of things I learned from this:
First, time is short. Don't waste an opportunity. There will probably be times when you'll have a longer time to cultivate a relationship with someone, but there will be other times when you just have a minute. A minute to listen...a minute to pray. Make it count.
I was also reminded that God can use us if we are willing. We don't have to be a preacher or a missionary. We don't have to be a doctor, judge, lawyer...or someone the world perceives as "influential." We might be a Mom...or a Dad. Or we might work at Wal-Mart...and it might be EXACTLY where God wants us...where we can be His hands and feet to a hurting world.
We sometimes think that, with our busy schedules, we don't have time to invest in the lives of others...but we do. As Christians, especially, we need to seize the moments in each day. You might not be able to make it to Tuesday Night visitation at the church...but you can reach people right where you are. Sometimes people just want to talk...sometimes they want to listen; sometimes they need a hug; sometimes you'll have the opportunity to pray with them...or for them.
It's important to be intentional in how we spend our days...to look for those people who are hurting...to look for those opportunities to be a witness...and a friend. Our pastor is preaching on this very subject this month.
I'm not sure Mrs. Deb ever realized the impact she had on others...on us. But here it is, 4 years later, and I'm still talking about her...and I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat when I remember her kindness to my son.
God will sometimes use the most unlikely people to do His work. Because of Joshua, we have met more people, been in places we wouldn't normally have gone, and had more opportunities to share our faith. God puts people like Mrs. Deb in our lives every day...we just have to be open to it.
Tell your story.
"...when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me." Matthew 25:40
Monday, October 12, 2015
DS Awareness Month: School Days and Discipline
I don't know what happened last night. I had the post all ready to go, and posted it to Facebook...guess I just forgot to post it to the blog. So, if I am able to post all 31 days of October for Down Syndrome Awareness/Acceptance Month...I'll be a day off from Facebook. I don't like to be "off."
The time Joshua spent in elementary school was good, and it was hard. Joshua was a trailblazer, and that exhausting for all of us. He was also a charmer...and he was a mess-and-a-half!
There were a few times when he was called to the principal's office. And a few more times that I was called there as well, making the walk of shame from the parking lot into the school. Times when "discipline was required," as stated in the school's handbook.
Fortunately, and by God's plan and provision, we had the best principal. Mr. Wood was a kind man with a huge heart for kids. Joshua loved Mr. Wood, and Mr. Wood loved Joshua. But there were rules, and Joshua was breaking some of them. And while he knew exactly what he was doing when he did it, he did not quite have the whole consequences thing down.
So there were a few times when Joshua had to be paddled at school, and bc we signed the form saying we wanted to be contacted first...we had to go to the principal's at school. And by "we," I mean ME...bc Jim was usually at work. Mr. Wood talked to me parent-to-parent...like friends...and he never made Jim and I feel like we weren't doing a good job with Joshua. We were never in the room when Joshua was paddled, but Mr. Wood would tell us about it later. He would talk to Joshua about his behavior, and the reason he was getting paddled. He said Joshua would listen to him so carefully...his brown eyes watching the emotion on Mr. Wood's face.
Sometimes, Mr. Wood couldn't bring himself to do it...sometimes they just talked. Sometimes they cried.
Both of them.
Like discipline grieves the heart of a parent, it grieved Mr. Wood's heart as well. So thankful for his compassionate heart.
We need more people like Mr. Wood in our schools.
"People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray." Proverbs 10:17
The time Joshua spent in elementary school was good, and it was hard. Joshua was a trailblazer, and that exhausting for all of us. He was also a charmer...and he was a mess-and-a-half!
There were a few times when he was called to the principal's office. And a few more times that I was called there as well, making the walk of shame from the parking lot into the school. Times when "discipline was required," as stated in the school's handbook.
Fortunately, and by God's plan and provision, we had the best principal. Mr. Wood was a kind man with a huge heart for kids. Joshua loved Mr. Wood, and Mr. Wood loved Joshua. But there were rules, and Joshua was breaking some of them. And while he knew exactly what he was doing when he did it, he did not quite have the whole consequences thing down.
So there were a few times when Joshua had to be paddled at school, and bc we signed the form saying we wanted to be contacted first...we had to go to the principal's at school. And by "we," I mean ME...bc Jim was usually at work. Mr. Wood talked to me parent-to-parent...like friends...and he never made Jim and I feel like we weren't doing a good job with Joshua. We were never in the room when Joshua was paddled, but Mr. Wood would tell us about it later. He would talk to Joshua about his behavior, and the reason he was getting paddled. He said Joshua would listen to him so carefully...his brown eyes watching the emotion on Mr. Wood's face.
Sometimes, Mr. Wood couldn't bring himself to do it...sometimes they just talked. Sometimes they cried.
Both of them.
Like discipline grieves the heart of a parent, it grieved Mr. Wood's heart as well. So thankful for his compassionate heart.
We need more people like Mr. Wood in our schools.
"People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray." Proverbs 10:17
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)