Men of Courage

The men in my family are not afraid of newborns. They fight for their turn to hold the newest member of the family. One of the biggest joys of having grandchildren is seeing again one of the traits that most endeared my husband to me in our earliest relationship. He has the same love of children. Seeing the tenderness of a wornout toddler sleeping on grandpa's chest reminds me of that first love. All my sons carry on this legacy. My heart is never so full or proud as when I watch this beautiful love story unfold.

Mesmerized

About ten years ago we had a pet rabbit for one summer. Cocoa never quit being afraid of us, though we fed her carrot greens, and tender clover, and loved her as much as you can love a pet that will bite you as soon as look at you. We read several books on rabbits as pets. A rabbit can be mesmerized by looking into it's eyes. From what I have read, it is not a calming experience for the rabbit, but more like a petrified experience.

I attended a conference on autism yesterday. I learned it is very painful for most people with autism to hold eye contact with anyone. It will take all that person's concentration and energy to not look away. They are going to look like they are taking in everything you say to them, but don't be fooled. Not one word you say will be processed in their brain, and it is not their fault! I have watched teachers time and time again hold a little face up to them, and talk at it. The children appear to be mesmerized.

I want to be Jesus in their lives.

I have been reading the book "Searching for God Knows What," by Donald Miller. He talks about how we value ourselves by the relationships we hold in our lives. When man was in the garden it was no problem to esteem ourselves, because God himself walked with us. Now we look to others, who are looking to build themselves by the relationships they keep. What a fruitless viscious cylcle! As a child, a teacher posed the question, "If you were in a lifeboat with a doctor, a lawyer, a mother, a child, a cripple ande a blind man, and one person needed to be thrown overboard to keep the boat afloat, who would you choose?"

When Jesus walked the Earth, he was not tied to that value system. He had relationship with the hopeless, the helpless, the tax collectors, those shunned by society. Christianity has not been built on a book written, a formula, a set of rules, a series of seminars, but on relationship with Jesus.

As I have worked with challenged students, I have been aware of a palpable wall of despair that holds them back. " Why bother? I never get anything right." When the same student can be enticed to forget that barrier, he can do very well.

I want to be Jesus in their lives.