This morning was FRUSTRATING. I was doing the usual physical therapy exercises with Jodi, or I guess I should say, I was TRYING to. In one exercise, I sit her on my lap and we face the couch. Then I sit a toy on the couch. I then help her stand up in the proper way and she is supposed grab the toy and stay standing so that I can fix her standing position. Usually the toy keeps her distracted so that I can fix her stance and she will stay In that position for a while if I am holding her. But today, she absolutely refused to stay standing. All she cared about was the toy. The toy is supposed to be the means to an end (the end being her standing). But today, she saw standing as the means to the end (getting her toy).
Just when I had had it up to here, God gently reminded me of something.
"Daughter, how often do you see me as a means rather than the end. How often do you see me as the means to a good life, cool opportunities, or good gifts. Linds, I am the END, not the means to an end. In fact, I am the beginning, the end, and everything in between. I am all that matters."
Touche, God.
Every day, he teaches me things and reminds me of things through my time with Jodi. And I am truly grateful. I know it is one of the reasons he brought me back here, because he had so much more still to teach me. But I believe he also brought me back for her.
Can you please pray for Jodi and my time with her? So often, while I work with her, I feel ill equipped, like I have idea what I am doing. The exercises that worked last week, she doesn't want to do this week. And I have find myself wishing I had four or six hands, instead of just two because then maybe, just maybe, I could get her to stand correctly. But God called me here, so I know he will equip me. My friend, who is a special education teacher, had to remind me today, that especially with special needs kids, it is easy to feel like nothing is getting accomplished at times. She had to remind me that even just spending one on one time with Jodi was making an impact in her life.
Even with reminders like that, I am pleading with God. "Do a work in her, Abba, please! There is so much more for her, she has so much potential. Heal her. Take away her stubbornness. Help her to stand."
He already knows those things though. After all, Jodi is His. God created Jodi. He knit her in her mother's womb.
But I firmly believe that one reason we pray is so that God can show us His work and His glory. So will you Join me in prayer for Jodi? Will you pray that she will learn to stand on her own? I only have 3 more weeks with her. Will you pray that miracles happen? 3 weeks seems like such a short time, but I know that with God all things are possible. It may sound cliche, but I know it to be truth.
