I am almost ready for Christmas. I got off work this morn and had to go get Junior at the bus stop. He is going home for Christmas. However the bus broke down and Greyhound sent another bus, but they couldn't fit Junior on the bus. The bus was full, so he had to call me to come get him.
So I went to get him and we tried to get him on a plane. That didn't work either, because he doesn't have a picture ID. By this time I am thinking perhaps it isn't meant for him to go home, since home is where he got in trouble in the first place and his parents and siblings are still out of control. But then again, he loves his family and I trust God to keep him and let him be a light to his family. He still has much to learn, but is growing and continues to amaze me.
Anyway, back to my story, we rush to DPS to try to get his driver's license. Well he doesn't have a social security card so of course they won't let him take the test. He only has the number, so off we go to Texas Workforce Commission because in this small town, they only do social security cards on Thursdays. After about two hours we go back to DPS so he can take his Driver's License test and guess what? He fails. No kidding! Hmmm, perhaps there is a teaching in all this.
Junior is one of the boys who moved in with us from the boys home. He is very prideful and even when you are talking to him he has a tendency to say, "I know." He also has a tendency to lift himself up when Jeremy is around, or if we are with his parole officer. He wants to be the center of attention.
Jeremy is a year younger and is struggling just to get his GED. He was in special ed classes and rarely attended school growing up. Junior has his GED and is starting college Jan. 16th. Junior was arguing with Jeremy and telling him he wasn't in those classes because they were for retarded people.
Of course I had to intervene letting him know we all have different gifts and what or whom he might see as imperfect, may be more perfect in God's sight than what he perceives to be perfect. I explained how special needs kids love unconditionally and how they are a gift from God to us and although they might learn slower in some areas, it doesn't mean they are any less than or that their gifts are less than his or anyone else's. I shared Helen Keller's story of how although she couldn't see or speak, God revealed Himself to her and when she could speak thru her hands and they told her about Christ, she said, "I always wondered what His name was." Needless to say, that got his attention!
So to make a long story short...Jeremy (our special kid from the boys home) passed his drivers test and is now having to drive Junior around. Not only did this happen, but Jeremy has been purchasing a vehicle and then Junior found a car and began to tell Jeremy his was better. So again we had a teaching...we explained to Junior he should never be lifting himself up as if he is better than anyone else. We explained the Christian thing to do would be to tell Jeremy, wow, we are both blessed because now both of us have transportation.
Anyway, guess what happened... Junior and I went to get the vehicle he wanted to purchase, but the guy who promised him he was going to sell it to him sold it. So things have a way of working themselves out. I honestly feel he is being humbled and it is a good thing. I am sure this pride thing is a front he is putting up. He is so insecure and tries so hard to be accepted. Jeremy on the other hand is very transparent and has a servant's heart. He struggles more, but admits he has problems.
I am learning so much. God only makes originals, no two people are alike and I am blessed to get to see each of these young men grow as we help them to become who God created them to be. I am thankful He is in control and when I don't have the answers He does, so again I am trusting him to work out all the details. So if you think of it, lift Jeremy and Junior up in your prayers as they learn to be young men after God's own heart.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
