Happy Sunday, all!
Like many of my blogs, the post that I am writing today was inspired by something that happened to me this weekend. The story that I am about to share has such complete importance and urgency in my current situation, and I believe that it is one that we can all benefit from.
As many of you know, I have changed my major several times since I have started college at UGA. I started out as a Communication Sciences and Disorders major, then evolved in Special Education, Middle School Education, and then English and History Education. Basically, in practically fifteen weeks, I had talked to nearly every program contact in the College of Education. Then, during the last week of November, I felt pushed to change my major back to Communication Sciences and Disorders for Speech Pathology with a backup plan in Special Education. I really wasn't sure why I made this change until yesterday.
One of my professors in the Special Education department mentioned a volunteer opportunity to my classmates and I last semester. After learning little information other than that we would be around special needs children, I signed myself up. Although I was unsure of what my day would entail, I made the decision to participate due to my interest in children with disabilities and my desire to be around them more. The second that I got there, my foundation was shaken. Hundreds of parents of special needs children came to an annual conference yesterday to gain support, learn tips, and meet other families. I, however, gained what I call a "wakeup call from God." I met kids with blindness, some who were deaf, some with down syndrome, and some who were labeled "medically fragile." One child, however, was the most influential of all.
Near the end of the day, I stepped into the room with older children to watch them rehearse their talents for the upcoming Big Hearts Pageant, an event for special needs children to showcase their skills and be crowned royalty despite their disabilities. After watching numerous group dances to Taylor Swift's hit "Shake it Off," a young boy stepped up to the makeshift stage. Standing alone, he held the microphone with both hands and declared that he was going to sing and dance to the Newsboys song, "We Believe." Though he missed many words, there was one phrase that he emphasized: "there is only one salvation, we believe. We believe." He threw his arms up in the air and danced as he sang the chorus with all of his might: "We believe in God the Father, we believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit, and He's given us new life! We believe in the crucifixion! We believe that He conquered death! We believe in the resurrection! And He's coming back again! We believe!" After he sung, the room erupted in applause. I, I stood amazed. Here was this little boy who had suffered unknown amounts of trauma, illness, and pain, yet there he stood, praising his Lord with all of his body and soul.
After I left the event yesterday, I still could not believe what I had experienced. I rushed back to my dorm to tell all of my suite mates multiple times how incredibly amazed I was. I called my mom, my dad, and my boyfriend and exclaimed to them all what had happened. Even after multiple hours, I could not remove the sight of that boy worshipping his Heavenly Father in such a confident, carefree manner.
See, I think that is what we forget too many times. As we worship our Lord, whether in church or in another place, we have our guard up. We sing the words on the screen, clap after the song, then sit back down in our seats. We worry too much about what others may think and let that influence how we offer our praise. We don't take the time to reflect and just let go of our stresses, our weakness and let God flow through us.
Because of what I saw that boy do yesterday, I now know why God has called me to work with special needs children. I used to believe that I would be the influence in their lives, but man was I wrong. These children have already begun to impact me in more ways than one and have given me a new outlook for my faith and my career. I realize that I may never see the young boy again, but I really wish that I could thank him. Thank him for being a light for his Savior. Thank him for not being afraid to give praise. Mostly though, I want to thank him for showing me what it really means to be a special person in someone's life.
-Emily
P.S. Feel free to check out the Big Hearts Pageant and Extra Special People more at this website: http://extraspecialpeople.com/special-events/big-hearts/
Also, here is the music video for "We Believe": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjZ01FcK0yk
Like many of my blogs, the post that I am writing today was inspired by something that happened to me this weekend. The story that I am about to share has such complete importance and urgency in my current situation, and I believe that it is one that we can all benefit from.
As many of you know, I have changed my major several times since I have started college at UGA. I started out as a Communication Sciences and Disorders major, then evolved in Special Education, Middle School Education, and then English and History Education. Basically, in practically fifteen weeks, I had talked to nearly every program contact in the College of Education. Then, during the last week of November, I felt pushed to change my major back to Communication Sciences and Disorders for Speech Pathology with a backup plan in Special Education. I really wasn't sure why I made this change until yesterday.
One of my professors in the Special Education department mentioned a volunteer opportunity to my classmates and I last semester. After learning little information other than that we would be around special needs children, I signed myself up. Although I was unsure of what my day would entail, I made the decision to participate due to my interest in children with disabilities and my desire to be around them more. The second that I got there, my foundation was shaken. Hundreds of parents of special needs children came to an annual conference yesterday to gain support, learn tips, and meet other families. I, however, gained what I call a "wakeup call from God." I met kids with blindness, some who were deaf, some with down syndrome, and some who were labeled "medically fragile." One child, however, was the most influential of all.
Near the end of the day, I stepped into the room with older children to watch them rehearse their talents for the upcoming Big Hearts Pageant, an event for special needs children to showcase their skills and be crowned royalty despite their disabilities. After watching numerous group dances to Taylor Swift's hit "Shake it Off," a young boy stepped up to the makeshift stage. Standing alone, he held the microphone with both hands and declared that he was going to sing and dance to the Newsboys song, "We Believe." Though he missed many words, there was one phrase that he emphasized: "there is only one salvation, we believe. We believe." He threw his arms up in the air and danced as he sang the chorus with all of his might: "We believe in God the Father, we believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit, and He's given us new life! We believe in the crucifixion! We believe that He conquered death! We believe in the resurrection! And He's coming back again! We believe!" After he sung, the room erupted in applause. I, I stood amazed. Here was this little boy who had suffered unknown amounts of trauma, illness, and pain, yet there he stood, praising his Lord with all of his body and soul.
After I left the event yesterday, I still could not believe what I had experienced. I rushed back to my dorm to tell all of my suite mates multiple times how incredibly amazed I was. I called my mom, my dad, and my boyfriend and exclaimed to them all what had happened. Even after multiple hours, I could not remove the sight of that boy worshipping his Heavenly Father in such a confident, carefree manner.
See, I think that is what we forget too many times. As we worship our Lord, whether in church or in another place, we have our guard up. We sing the words on the screen, clap after the song, then sit back down in our seats. We worry too much about what others may think and let that influence how we offer our praise. We don't take the time to reflect and just let go of our stresses, our weakness and let God flow through us.
Because of what I saw that boy do yesterday, I now know why God has called me to work with special needs children. I used to believe that I would be the influence in their lives, but man was I wrong. These children have already begun to impact me in more ways than one and have given me a new outlook for my faith and my career. I realize that I may never see the young boy again, but I really wish that I could thank him. Thank him for being a light for his Savior. Thank him for not being afraid to give praise. Mostly though, I want to thank him for showing me what it really means to be a special person in someone's life.
-Emily
P.S. Feel free to check out the Big Hearts Pageant and Extra Special People more at this website: http://extraspecialpeople.com/special-events/big-hearts/
Also, here is the music video for "We Believe": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjZ01FcK0yk