Day 1, Boldness:
On our first day at Sarah’s Covenant Homes, we were shown/introduced to the kids that we would be having 1 on 1’s with… but in stead of simply choosing or being assigned to a child… we were given the night to pray and ask God what child HE would pair us with.
I closed my eyes and I asked God to communicate with me in the best way I receive- in a picture. “Dear God, SHOW me my child.”
That is when I saw Valor.
for the first time.
When we did the “tour”… I couldn’t see over my squad mates into the playroom… so I never actually saw him… the only thing I knew about him was that he was on a bed.
But in that prayer I SAW HIM… as if I were recalling an image from a memory.
I SAW VALOR… an 8 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy on a mattress on the playroom floor.
#itsaGodthing
It gets better!
When we re-communed to put in our requests… With NO pre-communication, no two of the 15 of us requested the same child.
what are the odds?
We asked; we listened; He spoke.
#BOLDNESS
#itsaGodthing
#listeningprayer
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“the medals are awarded for acts of valour”
Day 2, Backbone:
My first day on the job with Valor… I felt completely out of my league.
What do I do for 3 hours with this little boy???
His spine is so warped, he lays comfortably at an approximately 110 degree angle.
I wish this was an exaggeration.
He didn’t react to any words, motions, touch.
Then to top it all off…
some of the Volunteers who have been working here for months inform me
Valor Never Smiles
🙁
Day 3, The Battlefield:
About an hour into our 1 on 1 time when I had already done all the exercises the Laurens (the volunteer physical therapists) had recommended
twice…
I was out of ideas.
I reverted to what I do naturally…
something any 8 year old boy would love…
I started to play with his hair
His eyes rolled to the back of his head
He breathed in sighs of relaxation
That is a universal language I can understand
I could tell he was happy… smile or not…
Therefore I was happy.
#spreadthehappy
That’s when it happened
(The moment that completely redefined the rest of our month)
He let one slip;
Just ONE
itty bitty
barely a moment’s worth
of half of a smile.
BUT IT WAS A SMILE!
I’m sure Satan kicks himself for that one…
because once it was confirmed POSSIBLE
There was NO STOPPING ME
I was getting another one.
With 2 hours left with Valor I held him, stretched him, loved him…
but most importantly
I prayed for him.
I spent the rest of my time with Valor that day PRAYING over him
A spirit of JOY
And praying against anything that came to mind that might inhibit that spirit.
(anxiety. memories. nightmares. etc.)
Valor and I were on a Spiritual Battlefield.
Conquering for Joy.
#spiritualwarfare
Day 4 Spirit:
The very next morning…
COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED
Valor burst into
Spontaneous Laughter
I had done nothing…
The Ayas (Nannies) had done nothing…
None of the other kids were around…
I reiterate… COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED
#itsaGodthing
The other volunteers RUSHED with their camera phones to get a good picture…
“I Can’t Believe it!”
Getting “A good smiling picture” of him “while I can.”
His bedside turned into Paparazzi!
#kindofabigdeal
He laughed for a good 5 minutes straight.
I asked; He listened; He Delivered.
He delivered Joy.
Joy to my Valor.
That spirit of Joy filled the entire room
Contagious to everyone who heard it
and was the start to an amazing month of 1 on 1s full of prayer, sighs, laughter…
and tons of
Smiles.
#spreadthehappy
-
“the medals are awarded for acts of valour”
For more information about Sarahs Covenant Homes click on the link below:
