How do you handle challenges when they inevitably arise? Do you thrive on the adrenaline rush that comes with being pushed above and beyond your comfort zone? Or do you fight the urge to go foetal at the mere thought of a challenge? Or possibly both depending on the nature of the challenge?
This week has been pretty huge. I have been working at the Vincent Early Childhood Development Program from Monday to Friday, and will continue this over the next two weeks. After having been on holidays for 3 months (or thereabouts), I knew that any form of work would undoubtedly be a shock to the system. Babysitting can be tiring at the best of times, however I have access to coffee and morning tea and spend the day playing with well-behaved children in the comfort of an air-conditioned lounge room. Not exactly a high stress scenario. As you can imagine there is a significant contrast between babysitting and working at VECDP. From Wednesday through to Friday this week I spent the afternoons and evenings at the Walker's house for the CU leaders retreat. It is a shame that I wasn't able to attend the entire leaders retreat due to work, however I am so glad that I was able go for a portion of the time! There were so many things about the retreat that I found deeply encouraging. It was just awesome to spend time with my brothers and sisters in Christ who love the Lord Jesus and share a desire to serve Him with their lives. However running between work and the leaders retreat was fairly exhausting, and for various reasons extremely challenging. I think that it is safe to say that this week has been emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually challenging. So this got me thinking about how I approach challenges, and what the appropriate response to meeting new challenges should be. I have said in a previous blog that the children I work with teach me much more than I could ever hope to teach them. This is completely true here. The children at VECDP know what it feels like to face challenges each and everyday.
Tashie has cerebral palsy. She can walk with the support of a walker however for the most part is confined to a wheelchair. Tashie has significant language and processing delays however displays great eye contact. She has gorgeous curly red hair, blue eyes and a cute cluster of freckles on her nose and cheeks. Tashie turns 3 this Tuesday. Starting school this week was quite overwhelming for Tashie. She had previously been to playgroup however this was at a different centre with different teachers. It was all a bit much for Tashie. Every time we approached her with a new toy or activity her bottom lip would quiver and big tears would roll down her cheeks. This is sometimes how I feel when faced with a challenge. Overwhelmed to the point of tears. Completely helpless and inadequate. Longing for someone to comfort me and make it all better. Sometimes this is appropriate for a short term response, however it will never suffice as a long term solution.
Melanie turns 3 in three months time. Her brother and sister also turn 3 in three months time; triplets. Melanie, Spencer and Bridget are all experiencing language delays and significant behavioural concerns. Melanie is the most domineering of the three. She loves to play the role of the leader, and the other two follow in her shadow. Melanie is not impressed when her position as leader is threatened. It is amazing how quickly an otherwise placid girl can morph into a screaming and crying ball of noise. Hopefully most of us have progressed from the tantrum stage, although aren't there still things in our lives that we stubbornly want to control? That we hold onto with both hands and refuse to let go of? I find it ironic (possibly a poor choice of words here) that the things I most need to let go of are exactly the things that I desperately cling to. The things that I cannot and should not control are the very things that I try to control. Most of us have to learn the hard way that we are ill-equipped to play the role of 'leader' and dictate the course of our lives on our own.
Armani has huge brown eyes and gorgeous long eyelashes. I've discovered that he is particularly fond of the "Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear..." game, especially the "tickle you under there!" part. From what I can tell (I haven't really been told much at this stage) Armani has an intellectual impairment, language delays and gross motor concerns. Armani is incredibly unsteady on his feet and can't walk more than a few steps unaided. He has to be watched constantly whilst sitting in chairs as he frequently slumps forward or slides off the chair. Armani has started having seizures during the day so he is noticeably docile. Today our class was going outside for a bubble blowing activity. The other children were already making their way across the yard while Armani and I stayed behind so I could help him into his stroller. I sat Armani down on the lino in the classroom while I went to find his stroller. As I walked across the classroom, I turned just in time to see Armani clamber to his feet and start moving swiftly yet VERY unsteadily through the door that had been left open and across the concrete in the direction of the other children. I have never moved so quickly in my life. Horrible visions of Armani falling and hitting his head on the concrete flashed through my mind as I sprinted across the room and caught him under the arms just as he lost his balance. God is so good, that could have gone horribly wrong. It's incredible how we can rise to meet a challenge when we have a significant motivation. What motivated Armani? He didn't want to be left behind in the boring classroom while the other children got to play with bubbles. So what did he do? He got up and walked. Amazing. Sometimes it takes a strong motivation to convince us not to dissolve into a ball of tears but rather to face a challenge head on.
It's all very well to consider what we can learn from children about facing challenges, yet what does the Bible tell us about this?
When we feel like doing a Tashie, Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
When we feel like doing a Melanie, Philippians 4:6 tells us: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. We don't need to fight to control our lives, but rather willingly trust our Father with the things that are close to our hearts.
And when we feel like Armani; in need of a motivation to face the challenges that life throws our way, 1 Peter 1:3 speaks of a motivation and hope that is entirely sufficient: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
how about Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. (Joshua J. Marine)
thanks for the challenge Carly- some time it just feels so appealing just to sit int the corner and shed a tear (In a manly macho way) :)
just curious: what are three year olds doing at a school? (I realise it's not normal primary school). Is it a special developmental thing for kids with disabilities?
Technically it's a development program. We have toddler groups as well. The three year olds are only there from 9am - 11:30am... it's pretty low key; playdough, painting, singing, puzzles and morning tea.
Oh, I forgot to say, they only go into VECDP 2 days a week :)
Post a Comment