A Popsicle for Jack
After a fairly busy week, my husband and I decided to go to a state park nearby that has a splash pad. We were looking forward to fun and family time.
Upon our arrival, there was a mother and son heading to their vehicle. We could see that he had a special need. When we got out of our vehicle, he came towards us and began talking loudly in phrases. Our gut reactions were “this is dangerous.”
Yet something in me said, this is of God. I exuded what I feel a superpower of peace for my husband, family and for Jack. My husband was getting very protective and defensive, as would any father and husband in this situation, asked his mother to come and get him (he was a teenager and picking him up and bringing him to their vehicle was impossible). To which she replied “you’re on your own.” I encouraged my husband that there is nothing wrong, and I gave Jack a popsicle- of which I am very confident I only packed 4, yet there appeared a fifth one, just for him.
I let down my expectations of what this family outing should look like and began to lean into the Lord and His plan for this time. We hung out with Jack for a little while; we played in the splash pad, he giggled and laughed loudly, our kids were at first surprised and a little scared but they too warmed up to him.
Other people arrived and it was fascinating to watch their interactions with him.
All the while, I could see his mother. Standing from afar watching her son. Every now and then she would try to convince him to go with her to their vehicle but he wouldn’t go.
My heart went out to her. I don't know her story or her situation, but I could see she was suffering. At one point, I saw her smile when her son was laughing- it was so beautiful that it could have melted the most hardened of hearts.
Our family was leaving because it was nearing bedtime. I waved goodbye to Jack, was turning to walk away, then I stopped and waved to his mother. Jack followed us as we were changing wet kids and packing things up. His mother followed. I could overhear someone telling her what she needs to do to keep her son out of trouble, I was so saddened by that. She came over near her son and us, filled with tears.
She told us that she had been there since 10AM that day and she was about to get him in the car when we pulled up. She said it is so hard to bring him places because this is what happens. This had my husband and I in tears for her.
My heart was so moved because I too am a mother. I want my children to enjoy fun outings. For her, the stakes are so much higher-yet she chose her son’s delight over her own comfort.
What a cross this woman must bear. I tried to entice him myself to go to his car but nothing worked. I asked her if I could give her a hug and she broke down crying on my shoulder. I held her for a while and she said “thank you.”
Why am I writing this? First, to honor and affirm those mothers who have this particular cross of raising a child with special-needs; you women are now in my daily prayers and I have so much love, compassion and respect for you!
Secondly, we need to be available. We can cling so tightly to our agenda and our motives that we lose sight of someone who is in desperate need of love. Should I have clung to my idea of this is “our family time” and seen Jack as an interruption to it rather than a gift, I would be so sad-and most of us are.
I invite you to that radical availability of the Lord and what he wants to do in and through you-very seldom does it look like what we have planned for ourselves. In this moment of loving Jack and his mother, I felt so close to my mother- she was the one who taught me how to do this very thing. I grew up watching her minister to the “outcasts” of society. I simply put on the coat that she gave me.
I find that it is not in our plans that our joy lies, it is often in those unexpected, heavenly encounters that we could never dream up.
