Many years ago, almost 30, I had the good pleasure of getting to know one incredible woman. She was single with two young boys, raising them on her own, their dad was in the picture but lived in another state.
What made her so incredible? She had to work a full time job to support her boys. Thats not so terribly incredible. But . . . one boy had a heart defect - the youngest, and the other. Oh the other. The other boy had downs syndrome. He was very high functioning, but life had its struggles nonetheless.
For the purpose of this post, and the anonymity of the family I will change the names. Going forward the mother will be Grace and the children will be Bob (oldest) and Bill (youngest).
Bob was about 11 when I met Grace. He was one of the happiest, polite, and full of life young men I'd ever met. His disabilities were obvious, but Grace made sure that he do what was necessary to reach his full potential - and stretch it when possible. Bob loved music, and had his favorite actors. Each time I would see him he would make sure that I still liked his favorites! He would greet me with a big ole smile, a handshake, and then a hug. He would address me by name, and ask me how I was.
Bill was a handsome young man. Giant blue eyes that sparkled just like his mom's. His smile was the same too. But the most significant thing that Bill inherited was his mothers spirit; kind, gentle, loving, and patient. He wasn't allowed to participate in sports due to his heart defect, and he had to wait until he was a certain age before they would do any surgery on him to correct the defect. He had good days and bad. She stressed over it - maybe moreso than trials with Bob.
Grace took her role as parent very seriously. How she managed to work her job, care for her home, and her two sons was beyond me. Everything was terribly organized, and her home was a cozy homey secure place to be. Her faith was paramount. Her love for the Lord, I know, carried her through - and her dedication to her faith was something to be respected. She taught her boys about the love of the Lord, and one of the greatest experiences I had with her was going to their church. I walked in and there was Bob. As a young teen he was a greeter and boy did people love him. He walked me right up to her in the pew and was so stinkin proud of himself. During the worship I watched him. He stood in his greeter seat singing as if his life depended upon it - off key at that - with his arms raised in the air praising his Savior. I was humbled.
Bob had yearly IEP's done at the school. Individual Education Program. Grace read them word for word and let the image burn on her brain so that she could monitor and make sure all the necessary and involved parties were doing what they committed to in the IEP. Of course, Bob had no idea about the IEP, and when in 10th grade came home and was telling her about his day. She immediately caught on to the fact that Bob's IEP was most definitely not being enforced. She scheduled a meeting with the teacher and was so upset. She didn't waste a minute. She got on the phone with the Department of Education and got the wheels rolling. She did her homework and found the best school that would meet his needs and she insisted he be placed there. And so it was. Next problem? Because Bob was disabled he qualified for transportation to and from school. However, they told her that they wouldn't be able to put him on the bus at this time. Not working for her. Bob's first day of school, Grace drove him to school, and then went to pick him up. She pulled right in the bus lane to wait for him to come out. Several of the school officials came to tell her that she needed to move as the line was for busses. She stood right up to them and told them that she was Bob's bus and wasn't moving. If they didn't want her waiting there, then they would see to it that he got on a yellow bus. Within 48 hours, he was!!
There are so many things like that she did for Bob and Bill. Bob ended up working as a bag boy at a local grocery, and then later at a mexican restaurant. He was loved, and the clients would ask for him! He was a favorite at the high school, and the homecoming queen asked him to be her escort at the ceremony. Bill went on to college and did quite well. He had his heart surgery and all worked out well. Bob stayed with his mom, as she didn't believe that putting him in a group home would give him any better quality of life than what she could, and so it was.
In the early 90's she found a lump in her armpit. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy. She continued to work full time, caring for her kids, and going thru chemo. She lost her hair, but never got sick. She decided to have fun with it, so each time you would see her she would have a different color wig on. One day I went to her place of employment in the morning, and we decided to meet for lunch. In the morning she had a blonde shoulder length wig on. When I met her at the restaurant she was a short cut red head!! She cracked me up! She survived.
She survived until around 2000. She called me crying, the cancer was back and in her lung. She had gone thru lung surgery to have it removed and then chemo again. It didn't work - and she suffered. She had the help of her family, and her boys were of adult age. Bill came home to care for her, and Bob just loved on her. She rested steadfast in the love of her Heavenly Father, and His comfort and peace carried her through her last days. She died on my birthday 2001. That was the last time I saw Bill and Bob.
Sometime in late 2008, I was working at one of our buildings, and I saw a young man that I almost went up to to say hello. I was convinced it was Bill. I decided not to, as I wasn't sure where he was, and last I knew he was still in the midwest - not AZ. I couldn't let it rest, so when I got home I looked him up on Facebook - and found him. He was living in the very town that I worked. I sent a friend request and we hooked up via Facebook. We had great conversation remeniscing about his mom and brother and their life. After that initial contact, I haven't spoken to him but maybe once or twice.
Two days ago, Bill put on Facebook pictures of his new son. He is a proud dad!! Today I was in the garage looking around at some books we had spread out on a table to give away, when one caught my eye. It was a little paperback book, with Bob's name on it - in Grace's writing. I couldn't believe it. I immediately contacted Bill asking if he would like it and naturally being his mother's son, he was delighted.
What is most awesome about this is while Grace is dancing on streets that are golden and she is seated at God's right hand - she lives on. She has a grandchild now, and he won't know her in this life. But, thru a simple book that his Daddy can read to him and that can provoke talks about his Gramma - she lives on. He will be able to share her faith with his son, and tell her how God raised her up. He can tell his son about a Proverbs woman, and encourage him to pray for that kind of wife. He can not only tell about the Proverbs woman - he can introduce his mother to his son as what the Proverbs woman looks like.
Can a little book about seasons provoke all of this? I believe so. I have carried these books over many miles for many years. They have traveled from a farm in Iowa to the city of Las Vegas, to the little town of Pahrump, and settled here in Arizona. That little book about the seasons was a hidden little gem, and had a destiny, one that was almost missed. God's timing is impeccable. Had I not have just seen the posting of the birth of Bill's son, that book would never have caught my eye and off to some other childs bookshelf it would have gone. But God had a different plan with something as simple and small as a paperback book. Now it will rest on the shelf of a little boy that will possibly be introduced to his Gram in a way he wouldn't otherwise.
When my back is better and I'm able to sit up, I'm going to go to meet this little guy. When I hold him close and feel his heartbeat, I will think of her and I will hold him close as if for just one moment I was stepping in her shoes for him and I will tell him she loves him for her, cuz I know she would want me to.
All because of a book. All because of a mighty God that cares about the little details. I miss her, and think of her often. My life was changed because of her, and my parenting was bettered because of her. Her moxy taught me what it looked like to stand up for what you know to be right, and her tenacity for life taught me that regardless of circumstance, God is still God, and He will give you all you need to walk thru whatever is set before you.
I love you . . . . Grace.
There are so many things like that she did for Bob and Bill. Bob ended up working as a bag boy at a local grocery, and then later at a mexican restaurant. He was loved, and the clients would ask for him! He was a favorite at the high school, and the homecoming queen asked him to be her escort at the ceremony. Bill went on to college and did quite well. He had his heart surgery and all worked out well. Bob stayed with his mom, as she didn't believe that putting him in a group home would give him any better quality of life than what she could, and so it was.
In the early 90's she found a lump in her armpit. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy. She continued to work full time, caring for her kids, and going thru chemo. She lost her hair, but never got sick. She decided to have fun with it, so each time you would see her she would have a different color wig on. One day I went to her place of employment in the morning, and we decided to meet for lunch. In the morning she had a blonde shoulder length wig on. When I met her at the restaurant she was a short cut red head!! She cracked me up! She survived.
She survived until around 2000. She called me crying, the cancer was back and in her lung. She had gone thru lung surgery to have it removed and then chemo again. It didn't work - and she suffered. She had the help of her family, and her boys were of adult age. Bill came home to care for her, and Bob just loved on her. She rested steadfast in the love of her Heavenly Father, and His comfort and peace carried her through her last days. She died on my birthday 2001. That was the last time I saw Bill and Bob.
Sometime in late 2008, I was working at one of our buildings, and I saw a young man that I almost went up to to say hello. I was convinced it was Bill. I decided not to, as I wasn't sure where he was, and last I knew he was still in the midwest - not AZ. I couldn't let it rest, so when I got home I looked him up on Facebook - and found him. He was living in the very town that I worked. I sent a friend request and we hooked up via Facebook. We had great conversation remeniscing about his mom and brother and their life. After that initial contact, I haven't spoken to him but maybe once or twice.
Two days ago, Bill put on Facebook pictures of his new son. He is a proud dad!! Today I was in the garage looking around at some books we had spread out on a table to give away, when one caught my eye. It was a little paperback book, with Bob's name on it - in Grace's writing. I couldn't believe it. I immediately contacted Bill asking if he would like it and naturally being his mother's son, he was delighted.
What is most awesome about this is while Grace is dancing on streets that are golden and she is seated at God's right hand - she lives on. She has a grandchild now, and he won't know her in this life. But, thru a simple book that his Daddy can read to him and that can provoke talks about his Gramma - she lives on. He will be able to share her faith with his son, and tell her how God raised her up. He can tell his son about a Proverbs woman, and encourage him to pray for that kind of wife. He can not only tell about the Proverbs woman - he can introduce his mother to his son as what the Proverbs woman looks like.
Can a little book about seasons provoke all of this? I believe so. I have carried these books over many miles for many years. They have traveled from a farm in Iowa to the city of Las Vegas, to the little town of Pahrump, and settled here in Arizona. That little book about the seasons was a hidden little gem, and had a destiny, one that was almost missed. God's timing is impeccable. Had I not have just seen the posting of the birth of Bill's son, that book would never have caught my eye and off to some other childs bookshelf it would have gone. But God had a different plan with something as simple and small as a paperback book. Now it will rest on the shelf of a little boy that will possibly be introduced to his Gram in a way he wouldn't otherwise.
When my back is better and I'm able to sit up, I'm going to go to meet this little guy. When I hold him close and feel his heartbeat, I will think of her and I will hold him close as if for just one moment I was stepping in her shoes for him and I will tell him she loves him for her, cuz I know she would want me to.
All because of a book. All because of a mighty God that cares about the little details. I miss her, and think of her often. My life was changed because of her, and my parenting was bettered because of her. Her moxy taught me what it looked like to stand up for what you know to be right, and her tenacity for life taught me that regardless of circumstance, God is still God, and He will give you all you need to walk thru whatever is set before you.
I love you . . . . Grace.
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