From Student to Volunteer

When Ayden was a baby it was no secret, he was a handful! He was kicked out of his 2nd daycare by the age of 3 and taking him to the nursury, or anywhere for the matter always ended with me (and usually him too) crying in a closet somewhere wondering why we even try! Ayden's behavior was out of control and me being a control freak did not handle it very well. With the help of many friends & prayer warriors, Dr. Patt, our chiropractor who worked on him while he was still in my belly and Valerie Bailey, his nurse since he was literally 3 days old we were able to develop a plan to get Ayden on the right track. 

Ayden was allergic to gluten, when he would eat it he would go into rages that he could not control (Dr. Wilding figured that out) so we changed up his diet. Ayden was also very hyperactive and it just so happened that Valerie started working on a program for children just like him called Open Arms. This program was put in place to help families of special needs children to be able to sit through a worship service and feel safe and confident leaving their little one in preschool, kids church, etc. I'll never forget one of the very first Sunday's this was put in place. I went to pick Ayden up and he was in the room with Valerie, the room was destroyed she was holding Ayden on the floor in her lap and you could tell he had put her threw the ringer and she looked up at me and smiled and said "Have you ever considered medicine with this one." 

Well, five years later we didn't have to put him on medicine and we survived. Open Arms is now called Bridge Champions and it reaches out to many children each week of all ages and all disabilities. On this Sunday my heart was busting open with pride because my little firecracker Ayden who was a big part of why this ministry was so special to me created a stiring in my heart was now a volunteer instead of a student! Tears are flowing just writing about this. As parents when are kids mess or are not "perfect" in the world's eyes' up we automatically think "I did this, I've done something wrong." but WHAT IF God is allowing your child to have a disability or special need for a bigger purpose? 

John 9:1-3 says: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."

This verse tells us that this man's blindness was to glorify God! Anyone who has ever worked with special needs children will tell you what amazing children they are and how they are a testiment of an awesome God. My son Ayden  showed me that I needed to depend on God daily but he also opened up my world to the audience of people that live their life everyday with a special needs child that may never be able to repay them or express to them appreciation for the sacrifices they make. I am so thankful for my hyper child that would destroy a room for without him I would not been able to savor the blessing that God had in-store for me the day I watched him minister to someone just a high strung as he was. Ayden is still not perfect, but hey who is!? We still have hard days with him but I thank God for blessing us with Ayden. Psalms 139-13-16 reminds me that Ayden was made for a purpose and seeing my red headed baby boy serve each month in our Bridge Champions room is a testament of that!