Have you ever wondered what exactly your purpose on this Earth is? For some of us, it's pretty clear. Doctors and Nurses seem to have a purpose to help the sick and mend the broken. First responders such as police, firemen, paramedics, and military personnel, have a purpose to serve their communities and protect it's citizens from harm and provide help when needed. Minsters and Missionaries have a purpose to spread God's word to the world. But where do the rest of us fit in?
Most moms will say that their purpose is found in their children. We are here to set an example for our children. We try on a daily basis to raise our kids to know right from wrong, We want to teach them to be kind, compassionate, smart, generous little people so that they will grow up to be kind, compassionate, smart generous big people. We want them to have an impact on the world. We want for our children, a better life than what we had. Maybe our child will grow up to be President and have a profound impact on our country. Maybe our child will grow up and discover the cure for cancer. Maybe our child will grow up to be a fireman, who pulls a child out of a burning building, allowing that child to grow up and do amazing things. The sky is the limit when it comes to our hopes and dreams for our children. But what about a kid like John? What could he possibly have to contribute to this world, to make it a better place?
We had dinner last weekend with a family, whom we love dearly. After dinner we were sitting around talking and our friend told us that he had talked about John with an acquaintance of his. I'm not sure if this man was a coworker or a long time friend, but with all that we had going on with John at the time, our friend felt compelled to tell this acquaintance about John. This man, a stranger whom we have never met, decided to pray for John. After telling us this story, our friend tells me "look at all of the people John has brought before God in prayer." Let that sink in for a minute. Our little John, who can't walk or talk, who can't use words to tell others about God, has in his own way brought many people, near and far, friends and strangers, to their knees in prayer. Some of these people may not regularly pray. They may not have a close relationship with God. But because of the impact that John's story had on them, they decided to take the time talking with God and asking his protection and healing over John. Who knows what that one prayer might lead to? It could be the start of a closer relationship with God that they never had. It could lead someone who prays sporadically at best to become a prayer warrior for others. There is no way for us to know how that one prayer may have changed the course of someone's life. And it all started with a little boy who can't walk or talk.
There are countless other ways John has had an impact. Some we can see, while others we may never see. 3 years ago, I spent many weeks praying that God would allow John to continue attending school at OKE. I truly believed that was the best place for him and the teacher he had there was the best teacher for him. I had seen so much growth from him since he started Kindergarten and I just knew that was the place he needed to stay. But God said no, and in 2012, John switched schools to Shafer, where he still is now. At the time I was devastated and I knew that if God wanted him to change schools, he must have big things in store for John. So as hard as it was, I embraced Shafer and gave it a chance. Now, 3 years later, I can see why God wanted us at Shafer. The school has had a profound impact on us, and it turns out, John has had an impact on it and the people there.
You all know the story of Emma and her quest to provide playground equipment for kids like John, who are in wheelchairs and who cannot properly play at recess like the other kids can. What you may not know, is the impact John had on Emma. For a while I thought that God brought Emma into John's life to be his friend. We all know that friends are hard to come by for kids who have different abilities. It turns out, God also brought John into Emma's life for the same reason. Emma was struggling socially until the day the teacher parked John's chair next to Emma's in their second grade class. Emma found a friend in John who didn't care who she was, or what she looked like, or how she acted, or what other people thought about her. All John cared about was being Emma's friend. He couldn't talk to Emma, but she still knew that he was her friend, and in turn John got a sweet friend. Of course the rest of this story is that Shafer Elementary now has playground equipment that is wheelchair accessible and because of this friendship, Emma's parents, along with Tommy and I, are working to get wheelchair accessible playground equipment at more schools.
Not only has John brought countless adults before God in prayer, but he has also helped to spark faith in kids. We were told by one mom that the first night John was in the hospital for his decanulation, she heard her daughter upstairs in her room talking. Thinking she was on the phone, she went up the stairs and into her room to see who she was talking to. What she found was her daughter on her knees, praying for John to get his trach out. Another friend told us that the moment we let them know way back in July that John might get his trach out this spring, her daughter began praying for him every day. And everyday while we were waiting for John to get a hospital room, both of her daughters would come home from school and ask if John got a room yet. After being told no for probably the 3rd or 4th time, her youngest daughter said "maybe we need to pray for all of the sick kids to get better." Talk about changing my perspective. And on the day John was finally admitted to the hospital, her oldest daughter told her that now that John is getting his trach out, she wants him to be able to talk to her. And although she knows that when they both get to Heaven, he will be able to talk to her, she has now begun to pray that he will be able to talk to her here on Earth. Talk about faith of a mustard seed. Now I'm pretty sure that the parents of these girls have quite a bit to do with the kind of faith they have, but I like to think that John gives them just a little extra reason to have faith.
He has also had an impact on me and has helped bring me out of my comfort zone. I am not the type of person who likes to lead. I would much rather be a follower. I like to help by doing the things people ask of me, not by making decisions and asking other for help. But when we got to Shafer, Special Buddies was starting and I was asked to be the parent liaison. I was not overly excited about it, but I knew the program was a good program and I figured if I didn't do it, I didn't know if anyone else would. So I said yes. I met our school counselor, who is the sponsor of Special Buddies, and she is an amazing woman. With her help, we have started and maintained an amazing program that just keeps getting better and better every year. Thanks, John, for pushing me out of my comfort zone.
I don't know what the rest of John's life will be like, but I know that God's purpose for him is not done. My prayer is that he continues to have an impact on those around him, whether big or small. I hope that more people feel led to go before the Lord in prayer. And I hope he continues to make friends and can inspire a little more faith in everyone he meets. I do know that our little guy is going to do great things. We may not be able to see everything he does, or every life that he touches, but I know that it will be pleasing and glorifying to God. After all, that is the purpose for all of us in this life, to bring Glory and Honor to God in all that we do.
***Just a quick update on how John is doing. A week and a half post decanulation, and he is sleeping like a champ. Both nurses say that he sleeps better now than he did with the trach. His oxygen levels are staying up and he seems to be getting good quality sleep. And John is rocking the naked neck. His stoma still hasn't closed on it's own, and probably won't. We have discovered that his skin does not like any kind of adhesive that we use, so when we are home, we are leaving his neck uncovered. I did cover it to send him to school today because he will be around so many other kids. I am using a gauze wrap to do that so that I don't have to put any adhesive on his skin.
Our nursing ends this week. After Wednesday night, we will have no more night nurse so we will have to figure out a new routine. Our first step was to install a camera in his room so that we can monitor him with our phones. Tommy did that yesterday, so now we have to figure out the best way to use this technology in order to assure he gets what he needs during the night, and we get the most sleep we can get each night.
