Watching a Child Change for the Better

        It has been awhile since I have wrote about the children that I work with and that's because I couldn't see any major changes in the children we kept getting but we have one child that just this passed week I have seen a huge change in and I LOVE it. I was starting to miss not seeing the big impact of what I was doing at my job and God knew it so as hard as it has been with this child, it has been worth everything little thing that we have tried.
       I saw my moment yesterday morning while working and it was just amazing to watch. It changed my outlook again and I think part of seeing things about that child is because my eyes have been open too. I have let go of things in my personal life that I needed to let go for a long time so those things are not holding me back. It is amazing to see how something so little can really hold you back from something so big and amazing. This is where I feel like God wants me for this moment in my life. He has "taken away" everything else from me but these children, which I'm okay with for now. I just have to have little moments like yesterday to remind me every once in awhile why I am where I am in life and even job.
        This little girl that I have been working with is so out of control or at least her body is. She seems to have no sense of what her body is doing most of the time. When she doesn't get her way, she will throw the biggest fits and even kick and try to bite whoever is near her. She runs away when trying to talk to her sometimes. She has a hard time listening and focusing at the task at hand. She cannot stay still for the life of her even when she tries. She might be able to color for a min. by herself and then she is done but if someone is coloring with her she will color for about 5 mins. but still wants to talk instead of focus. We had a hard time getting her to take a nap when she first got here but that has gotten a lot better even in this past week.
         There was only one staff member that could get her to sleep most of the time. I've tried a couple of times where that staff member was there but she would not go to sleep so we traded off and before we knew it she was asleep. I let the staff member put her to sleep all of the time this past week and the Friday came which was her day off but I was there. I wanted to try to put her to sleep so I did and she went right to sleep but it seems like it is a strange way to put a child to sleep. I let her pick between the staff members that were there who wanted to put her to sleep and she picked me. Then I told her that we are going to the room to curl up like a ball and rock in the rocking chair. I told her she could get a cover and her teddy bear. We talked for a little bit about keeping her body calm and quiet and before I knew it she was asleep within 30 mins.
           It was also at that moment that I told her that "I love her" and actually could tell her that because I had the patience with her that day and she had a GREAT day. She would be the kind where if a friend annoyed her she would fight back but yesterday was so different. Instead of fighting back, she would just come and run to me and either tell me what was happening or just hug my leg until the friend would leave her alone. Another thing that helps her a lot is A LOT of praise and encouragement. She feeds off of that so much. She has told other staff before that she likes it when people say nice things to her.
           Saying "I love you" to her was strange in a way. It was a feeling I never felt with a child before. It was like I really meant it and she really needed it. I was fighting myself at first about saying it because for some reason I was scared to but God pushed those words out of me and I said them. I felt like a connection has finally been made between us. I know I said it on that certain day because I could see what a sweet and smart girl she could really but and I don't see that a lot. I was also feeling like no matter what this little girl does from now on, I know there is a sweet side to her and I will love on her to make that sweet side show so she will know how it feels and will keep showing it even after she leaves.
             Children don't understand those things or how adults really think but that is my hope for her when she lives. I hope she remembers that she does have a sweet side and when she shows it that is what counts the most. No matter if you have messed up or been misbehaving before, you can always go back to your sweet self.
            As I'm writing this, it is reminding me of who God sees us as once again. We live a sinful life and mess up all the time but God sees the good and great in us. He makes everything work out for the good in us. He knows what we are able to do and He wants us to do and be like that. That is one of the many reasons Jesus died on the Cross for us. He whispers to us too, "I love you no matter what and I want what is best for you". Wasn't Jesus dieing on the cross for us what was best for us in so many ways? God hopes and leads us to the way everlasting.


Remember this: God loves you just the way you are and He will do anything and everything to save you from sin. He will stick with you through the thick and thin times in life whispering "I love you" in your heart.