God looked into a field and saw the shepherd boy, David. Those around him said he's just a shepherd boy, but God saw a king. Today I have been reflecting on those around me with special needs. As I was looking through all the Facebook posts of the Cleveland, TN Special Olympic events and friends of mind that have been trusted to care for these blessings from God, I reflected on the children here in Haiti with special needs. Currently we have two 3 year old boys in the clinic that have special needs and are both burned.
Mikey came to us burned from his face to his waist and a little on his legs. When he first came to us, he would scream, cry, kick, fight, whatever he could to try and get out of the clinic. It was a daily battle but we realized he didn't communicate with us like many of the other children and then his mom explained that he screams and fights her a lot at home. Love is what Mickey needs. One day, after about a month of treating him, I walked out into the lobby, picked him up out of the water and sat him in my lap. Almost, instantaneously he stopped crying but whimpering off and on. I walked him outside watching the cattle go by and I began making a cow sound. He smiled, but a small one as if he didn't want me to know he thought it was funny. Then a moto went past and honked at us so I made the sound of a moto and he cackled. You see, Mikey has probably never been shown affection. In this society, the parents aren't educated on how to deal with disabilities. There are no awareness activities, no education for these children, no Special Olympics, they are still seen like a leper in Biblical times. A large majority of the children aren't even diagnosed. Who speaks for them, who educates others, who shows them love? That day, and every day since, God has given me the responsibility. He has trusted me. Mikey will sit in my lap, and we pour the water over both of us. Sure treating him is still difficult and when we have to hold him down, he is terrified, but I can look in his eyes and know he trusts me.
Today, Nielson came in. Another beautiful child, but doesn't know how to communicate. Nielson doesn't have that trust with me that Mikey has learned. He lets me know he is in pain by biting. It took one time for me to realize he was going to try every chance he had. He is burnt on his foot. His cousin brought him in. The love of God shines in her. She knows he has special needs but she loves him anyways. She talks to him and tries to calm him. It's difficult for her to watch him being treated because she hurts for him. However, I know that God can use me over the next few days or weeks to help ease his fears and suffering, if they continue to bring him.
They are both kings in God's eyes!!!!
