Followers

Thursday, September 18, 2014

When Good Men Step Up!

My son just started high school.
It's a huge school.
None of his middle school friends are there.
It’s scary.

Unkind words have an impact,
Like being called a "Freak" in English class.


My son's anxiety grew,
like a large uncontrollable beast.

I reached out to the football coach.
A Christian man,
a PE teacher, 
who had been there for our daughter,
during her two years there. 


The PE teacher requested a meeting
early the next morning.


I waited for my son in the Student Affairs Office,
a safe place, 
where my son was spending a lot of time,
lying down with stomach aches
and headaches.

I waited while he met with the coach.

When my son came back from the meeting,
he looked stronger.

He hugged me good-bye with a firm: 
"I am fine mom."

Coach had told him
the school was like "the world" 
with mean people, 
but also kind people.
Josh just needed to find the kind ones.

Then he asked my son to be the Team Manager
of the football team!

Josh accepted.


Later coach introduced my son to the team
reminding them that 
some people are dealt a difficult hand in life,
others are not.
Then he briefly explained Josh's history.

And finally coach said to Josh:

"No longer will you have to walk the hallways alone and afraid.
Now 120 football players and their coaches have your back!"

Cheers erupted all around!

The football players check on him in his classes.
They invite him to sit with them at lunch.
They come to visit him if he's lying down in the SAO office,
with one of his stomach aches or headaches.
They high-five him in the hallways.

My son's a different kid now.

He still has anxiety, 
but the love, 
caring
and power of the football team
and their coach 
has changed everything
for my son.

When good men step up!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

"Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God."

(Warning: curse words ahead...)

My son just started high school.
It's a huge school.
None of his middle school friends are there.
It's scary.

And he's walking down the hallway
when an upper class-man gets in his face and says:

"What the hell is that fucking thing in your neck!"

Really?  Are you serious?

And my son ignores him,
continuing on his way,
 completing his task,
then dashes into his counselor's office
where he bursts into tears
 once the door is shut.

My son is a survivor, 
a cancer survivor.
Why does he have to put up with this shit?

As a mom, 
I want to find that jerk of a kid and scream in his face,
making him feel small and worthless and stupid,
maybe even gouge his eyes out.

Mommabear.

And then I text Joseph,
someone God brought into our lives,
my son's life.

He's taking Josh to lunch today.

And he texts back:
"Josh is being something in the end, 
that only matters.
An example of Grace, 
compassion,
 love 
and being used by Jesus 
whether he knows it or not.  
He will soon.  
Shitty happens to all 
and it sucks more cause he is young, 
undeserving of it 
and y'all's kiddo.  
But God will make beauty out of ashes.  
We will just keep lifting Josh in love 
and encouragement.  
And soon 
guys like the one who said what he did 
will become a passing fade 
and instead of making him sad, 
it will make him ache for such a lost 
and pathetic human being."

Thank you Joseph.

And then I read:
"Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. 
Love your neighbor as yourself.  
I am God." 

Leviticus 19:18