HE'S JUST TRYING TO HELP...

As mentioned in previous posts, David is our laundry police. For whatever reason he can not tolerate it when the laundry isn't done every day. One of David's work responsibilities each morning is to take the laundry basket from the bedroom to the laundry room. In our laundry room, I normally place the clothes that need to go to the dry cleaners folded in a corner of my counter space. Every Monday morning, after bringing the laundry basket to the laundry room, David pulls out anything he THINKS should be dry cleaned and throws it into the corner. His "help" wouldn't be so bad if he only pulled out the things that really do need to go to the cleaners. But he often just grabs a handful of stuff - dress shirt (good), undershirt (not good), one sock (not good), handkerchief (not good) and sometimes even a pajama top or bottom! Since I'm not known for being a morning person, I don't always check the corner when I start my load of laundry for the day. Then later on as I'm folding the clothes, I realize I'm missing __________. Sure enough, it's in my dry cleaning corner.

David's assistance with the laundry does not always help me. I wonder if God looks at us trying to manipulate our lives and circumstances to what we think is best and we interfere with His planning. Our God is a loving God, so I would imagine He says with compassion, "They are just trying to help." But our help isn't really help at all.

In my own life I need to stop trying to figure everything out and I need to trust. Of course, it seems easier to "work" than it is to trust, but God expects and deserves my trust. Today, I am going to try to trust Him more than yesterday and realize that He does not need my help!

DAVID - THE POLITICAL ACTIVIST!!

Today, SouthSTAR Services (the workshop David attends) took a group of people to downtown Chicago to protest the proposed budget cuts the state of Illinois is considering making to groups and agencies that serve the disabled.  These budget cuts are more cuts in a series of cuts over the last few years.  Services are already at very diminished levels and many agencies have not received payments from the state in several months.

Anyway, I volunteered to go downtown to help support the cause.  I brought David with me, and we enjoyed the van ride down with several other clients.  Once we got downtown, there was a group of people gathered at the State of Illinois building carrying signs and bonding over a shared concern.  Once the speakers got up, the crowd starting chanting in unison "This budget is upside down!"  Now, I'll be honest; David just sat in his wheelchair and didn't do much of anything.  I, however, got into the spirit and was chanting with everyone else!  Another speaker got up and had the crowd chanting in Spanish!

All of that to say that we become what the crowd we run with is.  I am by no means an activist.  I normally would not go anywhere and chant and yell and carry on.  It's not my natural personality.  But I was with a group of people who did, and guess what, so did I!

We have to be so careful the crowd we hang around and with whom we associate.  If we want to live lives that are clean and pure, we should have as friends people who are clean and pure.  If you never go to a bar, if you never are around people who drink, and you avoid that atmosphere, it's pretty likely you will never take a drink.  However, even the person most against drinking would probably end up drinking if they spent all their free time in a bar.

So today I've taken a look at what I want to be in this life and I've looked at the friends I have to ensure that they are what I want to be.  What do you want to be?   

You messed up? We'll help!

This post isn't about any specific behavior of David's.  Rather, it's because of a comment someone made to me recently. 

A little background:  We have two dogs.  Zeus, a champagne shepherd, is 7 years old.  In the last year, Zeus has had a couple of strokes.  The first stroke left him unable to walk normally.  He staggers like a drunk after a long weekend.  The second stroke has left him partially blind.  Zeus still is a happy dog, but he needs a little extra attention.

Our second dog, Trudie is a schnauzer-yorkie mix. Trudie is fourteen years old.  Trudie came to live with us just a couple of months ago when her human had a stroke, ended up in the hospital and then in a nursing home.  Because of Trudie's age, she has a lot of "accidents," and thus, wears a diaper.  She also has an eye that just gunks all the time and requires cleaning several times a day.

We have three cats.  The oldest cat, Lucy, is about ten years old.  Lucy has no difficulties, she's just demanding and wants constant attention. 

Ditto is our second cat. Ditto is about seven years old and has a TON of attitude.  She's downright mean if she doesn't like you, and she really doesn't like anyone except me and Rich, and there are times she doesn't like us either. 

Cleo is our third cat.  Cleo is also about seven years old.  Cleo is very schizoid.  She wants attention, but she's afraid of everything. She also doesn't groom herself very well and often needs assistance to get the mats out of her fur. That is challenging because she doesn't like to be held.

Of course, if you've read this blog at all, you know that David has his quirks and habits that make life more interesting.  I'm not going to divulge all of my or Rich's weaknesses or unique personality traits.

So, we are a house full of misfits and challenges.  A friend recently commented to me that she felt like we are always taking care of someone or something.  I laughed with her, but I've since thought about it a lot.  On Sunday, our pastor made a comment about how Jesus was a servant and every person He met He looked for ways to help that person.  I would like to think that we do the same thing. Yes, we take care of our pets that have special needs, and we do it happily - we love our pets.  We take care of David and his special needs, and we do it happily - we love David very much.

The question is, do we look for others who have special needs to help them?  Do we look for the people with broken hearts to offer them the comfort Jesus can offer?  Do we look for the people with anger and loneliness and offer them the never-ending presence of a calming Christ?  Do we look for the people who exhibit behavior that chases people away and show them the unconditional love of a Saviour? 

We are not perfect and we don't always want to get involved in the hurts of others.  It takes a lot of work and effort, and it's exhausting.  But we realize how much has been given to us and how much we owe to those who took the time to help "fix" us when we were broken and didn't even realize it.

So, we are going to continue offering the help we can give through the Master Fixer, Jesus Christ.  There is nothing He can not fix and make better.  We promise.

LET'S GIVE SOME CREDIT...

Rich is a BIG FAN of old TV westerns.  The other day, Rich was watching an episode of Wagon Train from 1959.  David came out of his room just as the show ended and the show credits started rolling.  David stopped in front of the TV and just stood there fascinated.  He didn't move until the last credit had scrolled by.  He does the same thing with his old cartoons, or anytime credits scroll down the screen.

I'm not sure why David is so fascinated with watching credits, but let me tell you how his behaviour has provoked my spirit...

I have no idea what it takes to put together a TV show, or any major production.  I do know it takes scores of people doing so many things that I will never realize.  The only acknowledgement those people receive is to have their names run across the screen so quickly you can't hardly read it. 

Each of us have scores of people who have made investments in our lives.  Some people - maybe dad and mom - have starring roles and receive prime "billing" in our lives.  We tell stories of the things they have done or said that made a difference.  Some people are primary characters in our lives and receive acknowledgement at times.  But there are scores of people who have played a role in making us who we are.  There are Sunday school teachers, school teachers, friends, parents of friends, and so many others who are important to our life story but are never really acknowledged by us.  These would be the people whose names are listed at the end of the show.

I would love to say that I remember every person who has made a difference in my life, but I can't.  I would love to say that I could recount every moment of my life and tell you how a particular interaction helped make me who I am today, but I can't.  Our God knows all of the details that I can't remember.  Someday, our God will give credit to all the people who deserve it, and I'm looking forward to that day.

In the meantime, I am trying to be attentive to the people who are cast members in my life.  Each person has a vital role in my life's story and I am thankful for the part they play in making me who I am!

ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR!

As I've frequently mentioned, David loves to travel.  For some reason he is enamored with hotel rooms.  Later this week we are taking a small trip down to Tennessee where Rich has family.  David knows we are going (he will repeatedly pick up the hotel confirmation I have printed and laugh), and has been on his best behavior.  He's behaving so well because he knows if he's been good, the trip will be much more rewarding and enjoyable for him.  When he behaves, we will reward and let him pick out a cartoon DVD at Cracker Barrell or let him get a bag of chips at a gas station when we stop to fuel.  When he has been misbehaving, we do not reward his bad behavior and he isn't allowed any special treats.

As Christians, we are on a trip to Heaven.  We should be on our best behavior because there will be rewards for us if we do what we are supposed to do.  Our Heavenly Father is building a home for us, and I like to think that we can get upgrades to our heavenly home by how we behave on our trip home.  I want to reach my final destination and have lots of goodies to experience at the ultimate vacation spot.  So today, I am trying to be on my best behavior - how about you?

NEVER SATISFIED...

It's a normal Saturday in our home.  We woke up this morning and I made a big Saturday breakfast for all of us.  I made some cheese omelets, Jimmy Dean sausage and some microwave bacon.  Later on, I took David to Walgreens for his weekly treat of a magazine, bag of chips and bottle of diet soda.   After leaving Walgreens I stopped and picked up a little treat for all of us. 

As soon as we got in the van to go to Walgreens, David started using his sign language to ask for food.  He had just eaten a big breakfast, but he wanted more.  While in Walgreens David asked repeatedly to eat.  When we left Walgreens David was asking to eat.  When I left the little snack shop David was asking to eat.  When we got home and ate the snack, David was asking to eat.  David has been coming to us and asking to eat about every five minutes. 

David had a big breakfast, a snack and has a bag of chips and soda in his room, but he's not satisified.  He wants more.  I'll start cooking dinner in a few minutes, but David still won't be satisfied.  As soon as dinner is finished, David will ask to eat something else.  If we have some kind of dessert or after dinner snack, David will still be asking to eat.

David's not hungry, he's had plenty to eat.  Now, I understand that David has physiscal reasons for never being satiated, but a spiritual application can be made.  God gives and gives to us so much more than we need.  But how often do we overlook all we have and crave what God has not yet given to us.  We live in a society where contentment is not a fostered attitude.  Commercials are trying to convince us we need the newest and brightest of everything.  Our pride tells us we need to keep up with the Jones' next door.  Even in church we want to make sure we have a new dress on Easter because our friends will have a new dress on Easter Sunday.

There are times I look around our home and am amazed at all the STUFF we have.  Even our home is too much!  There are two rooms and a basement we don't even use except once or twice a year.  But those rooms are all furnished nicely.  There are pictures on the walls.  God has given me more than I need, but I can easily find myself wanting more.

Today, I am going to try to be content in whatsoever state I am.  God is good to me - it doesn't matter if I have the newest of anything.  If the dress I wear on Easter Sunday is several years old it doesn't matter.  Easter Sunday isn't about the dress I wear, it's about the resurrected Saviour who defeated death to give me life.  I want to be satisfied with God's goodness.  How about you?

LOOK AT HOW FAR WE'VE COME!

Our family recently returned from a much needed vacation to Disney World in Florida.  We think Disney is one of David's most favorite places in the world!  We've been talking about how far David has come in regards to traveling.  Growing up, our family finances were always strained and I can only remember one trip, although our family took two family vacations.  When I was about three and David five, our family went to Florida to visit some family and to Disney World.  I do not remember this trip at all.  When I was about ten and David twelve, we went to West Virginia to visit family friends.  That trip has stories all it's own.  So, needless to say, David was not used to traveling, and had never stayed in a hotel.

The very first "vacation" Rich and I took David on was to visit some friends in Kokomo, Indiana.  It was to be a simple, one-night stay in a hotel to see how he would do.   David really enjoys driving in the car, so the drive down was great.  David seemed excited when we went into our hotel room.  (David loves lying in bed and watching TV, and that's how hotel rooms are set up!)

We had been in the hotel room for about an hour when we started preparing to go meet our friends for dinner.  Everything was going smoothly until we left the hotel room without our luggage.  David went bonkers!  We think he was afraid he'd never see his shape-sorter toy again!  Thankfully our friends were so understanding about David's constant groaning, moaning and waving his arms.  When we returned to the hotel room, it was as if you could actually feel David's blood pressure dropping when he realized his toy was safe and sound!

Fast forward about twelve years.  We now travel at least yearly with David.  He lives for the next hotel stay.  David has learned how to finger spell Days Inn and Disney and will frequently ask us to spell those words with him to let us know he's ready for another trip.  We have taken David to Disney World several times, Disney Land, Boston, Knoxville numerous times, Branson, and even on a cruise.  David is a great traveler.

David still has to grow in his traveling skills.  Disney started a great service several years ago that's called Magical Express.  If you are staying in one of their hotels, they will pick you up at the airport and take care of all your luggage - you don't even have to get it at baggage claim.   The first time we used this service David was nervous because we were "leaving" our luggage behind.  This most recent trip, I don't think David even thought about our luggage!  He grows with each trip.  He's even learning how to "pose" for the TSA pat-downs.

So, you are probably wondering what spiritualy application this has for us.  Well, my answer is that there's always room for growth and improvement.  David was in his thirties when he started traveling with us.  He wasn't too old to learn new tricks.  In our Christian life, we don't have to settle or be satisfied with where we are or what we are doing.  We can stretch our minds and habits to accomodate opportunities for growth.  When growth is uncomfortable, we need to trust our spiritual leadership that the pain we endure will provide for better opportunities.  David would never be able to enjoy Disney if he hadn't learned to leave the suitcases in the hotel room. 

When God gives you a situation that seems too painful or difficult to endure, just remember there is a spiritual Disney World waiting for you!

I'M NEVER ALONE!!!!

Anyone who has ever lived with toddlers will understand feeling like the kids are always "right there."  You can't do anything or go anywhere without someone following you.  I get those same feelings with David. 

For the last two and a half months, I have been pretty sick.  During some of that time, David was pretty sick too.  Normally, when David is sick, he wants to be left alone.  He goes to his room, closes his door and sleeps his way to wellness (doesn't that sound wonderful?).  This time, however, he wanted to be close to me.  So, while I was sitting on the couch covered up feeling miserable, he would come sit next to me, put his head on my shoulder and fall asleep.  Sounds sweet, doesn't it?  Well, since I was sick, sweet wasn't the word I would have used...

David's feeling much better, and I am getting better, but am not 100% yet.  Yesterday was President's Day and David was home from the workshop.  Because we leave this week for our vacation David was very interested in EVERYTHING I was doing.  He didn't want to miss a thing.  So, from about 10 in the morning until about 6 last night, I had David within one foot of me the whole time.  When I would go to the bathroom I would have to yell at him to leave and then he would stand right outside our bedroom door.  Those few precious moments of alone time were soon wasted when the dog came into the bathroom and sat down next to me.  Then the cat walked in and started circling my legs.  I can't even be alone in the bathroom!!!  Oh, for just a few minutes of privacy!!!

Today, David went back to work.  I've been "alone" some, but really, there is absolutely nothing I can do to ever be alone again.  Since I have trusted Christ as my Saviour, I have Him living in my heart.  I will never be alone - I may feel alone, forsaken, abandoned, and even betrayed by those closest to me, but I am not alone.  The Best Friend in the whole world is always with me.  So, while I may want some private time, I'm very glad that I will never be alone. 

Are you lonely today?  Ask Jesus to come into your heart - you'll never be alone again!