The Works of God

About a month ago I reported on an email I received from Jan Lacher, who had very encouraging news about adult leaders who wanted to include her son Michael, who lives with severe disabilities, in their Wednesday evening class at Bethlehem’s north campus.  Yesterday I received an email from Jan on what recently happened in that class.  I was greatly encouraged!  Here is that report, with Jan’s permission:

Hi John,

Let me give you a little update about Michael’s Wednesday night second grade class for Connection.

While waiting in line to enter the room with Michael last evening, a mom of one of Michael’s classmates approached me.  She proceeded to tell me how much impact that Michael’s presence had on her son who is in the class.  She stated that her son’s prayer life has changed from being self focused to that of praying for others, specifically Michael.  She then said with emotion in her voice, “God has a purpose for that child’s (Michael’s) life!”  I thanked her for the encouragement.

As Michael entered the room in his wheelchair, he made his presence known by pounding the attendance table which is in arm’s reach.  All the teachers and small group leaders smiled and  greeted Michael.  They told him how glad they were to see him.  Eyes were watching the behavior the  adults were modeling.  The children sat on the floor, ready for their class to begin.

The focus of the second grade Wednesday night Connection is prayer.  Cheryl, the team leader, opened the class with a discussion on prayer.  Then she had children pray for others who might be home sick.  She also asked one of the children to pray for Michael.  Michael of course is bouncing and noisy, making unintelligible sounds.

The time transitioned to the lesson.  During the course of the teaching, children turn and observe Michael in his moving, pounding, and verbalizations.  Science teaches us to use our senses to learn about God’s world.  That is exactly what these children were doing–learning more about others with disabilities–specifically Michael.  At one point during the lesson, I eased Michael out of his wheelchair and onto the floor.  One of the second grade boys, who typically sits by himself, scooted next to Michael and tried to engage with him.  Maybe Michael has his first friend….

During the small group time, activities focused on making a prayer booklet and having discussion of prayer.  I brought Michael in his wheelchair close to the table, but not too close, lest he distract children with the tapping of his feet or rubbing his feet on the table.  The children did not seem to be afraid of Michael, but were curious as they paused to observe his behavior.   Time was spent in the group coloring the sheets which  are part of the prayer booklet.  I asked the child next to Michael what color he would recommend that Michael use for coloring his sheet.  He chose orange.  I took the orange marker and put it in Michael’s hand with my hand firmly over it and scribbled colored marks on the prayer sheet.  All children at the table stopped and watched this process of hand-over-hand coloring technique.  Other children offered different colored markers that they thought Michael would like to color his sheets.  I thanked them for their input and proudly displayed Michael’s colorfully scribbled prayer sheets upon completion.  I told them that these sheets needed to be compiled into a prayer book for Michael just like theirs.  There were some nods in agreement.

I have been asked to be interviewed in the class on prayer next week.  Specifically, I will be asked about when God responds “no”, “yes”, or wait when we pray to God.  Certainly, Michael has been the focus of much prayer these past seven years.  I have much to say about God’s goodness, wisdom, and mercy.  I just hope that I won’t cry throughout it.

I am viewing this as ministry with the Fox.  And it doesn’t feel hard to do this.

Hard or not, it is huge ministry!  Michael is an ambassador of God’s extraordinary, righteous creative powers.  And he has influence that goes far beyond most children just by his very presence.  Jan also demonstrates how to help adults and children see the inherent God-given worth of that precious boy in direct ways that make the purpose of the God-centered curriculum come alive, even for young children.  What teacher wouldn’t want the impact of his or her lesson multiplied?

Jan and Mark also see and love their boy for who he is even as there remains the longing I think most parents of severely disabled children feel – for friendships for Michael, for connection with other children, for understanding.  I know I have those desires.  Trusting in and knowing God as sovereign over all things for our joy places those longings in a God-centered perspective, trusting that the King provides for all our needs and the needs of our children.  And there is a reason we frequently quote Paul from 2 Corinthians 6:10, “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”

The entire Lacher family is a gift to me and to Bethlehem.  It just happens that Michael is the reason I know them – and that is a good reason, indeed.