Recently, Mary and her five month old son, Juan were accepted to Visitation House. While a plan was getting setting up for Mary, I babysat Juan for a few days. I love children, but I don't often interact with babies. However, Juan, a pudgy and strong boy, is a delight to be around. He is a happy baby who smiles frequently revealing his small dimples. As I babysat Juan, I took notice of how dependent babies are on their caretakers to meet their needs. It was interesting to see Juan play on the floor. His movements seem awkward as he tries to discover his own abilities. In trying to grab a toy, he overstretches his arms as they squirm to grab things. Likewise, he wants to crawl but has not managed to figure out how. While lying on a mat, he can bring his knees to his chest and push but he can't hold himself up on all fours. This reminds me, that hard as it may seem, I too was once a baby. Looking at Juan, I realize how much I have grown and how much of that growth was because of people who cared for me. It fills me with gratitude to think of the numerous people who have supported me. It also challenges me to be a support for others.
Eli, a five-year-old girl, allows me to see another stage of life. In kindergarten, Eli is just beginning to learn how to read. Every day at seven o'clock this spirited, dramatic and Disney princess loving diva and I work on handwriting and reading. She can correctly identify all the letters in the alphabet and almost all the sounds they make. Listening to her read inevitably brings a smile to my face. Her beginning reading books are about six pages and usually have no more than five words on each page. However, she treats each book as if it is novel. When she sits down to read, she releases a heavy sigh as she begins her momentous task. Sounding out letters isn't a problem for her but combining all the sounds together is something she is working to improve. She repeats the sounds over and over again. duh-ah-duh. duh-ah-duh. duh-ah-duh. duh-ah-duh. Finally, after about seven tries she guesses what the word is. DAD! Teaching Eli to read reminds me of the patient people who sat with me as I sounded out letters and tried to form words. It made me aware of the challenges each stage of life brings. As we get older, these challenges get harder, but our abilities to handle them are increased so we can aptly face life's obstacles.
Every day I am reminded of my teenage years though the life of Tina. Tina is twelve and proudly calls herself a teenager. In middle school, Tina is going through a tough stage of making friends, fitting in, and discovering herself. While a smart and usually obedient girl, Tina is moody and sometimes irritable. She is the oldest child in the tutoring program and thinks she is cooler than the others. She commonly asks them, "Are you smart or dumb?" Once answered, she continues to ask them trick questions and gloats when they get them wrong. Interacting with Tina makes me grateful for my parents and siblings who put up with my attitude and mood swings at this age. It also lets me know that in every stage in life, there are lessons to be learned and even though life may be hard, the stage will eventually pass.
When in the presence of Irene, I cannot help but feel that I have much to learn. In her sixties, Irene is no stranger to struggle. A San Antonio native, Irene is undoubtedly full of strength and sass. About a year ago, Irene lost her only son. Despite this loss, this pain, Irene is full of life. Having a great outlook on life, when hardships come her way, she accepts them. She doesn't complain or play the victim seeking sympathy from others. Nor does she lash out and become bitter because she is hurting. She acknowledges the situation for what it is, realizes what is within her control and then calmly pursues a logical course of action. When things don't work out as she may have hoped, she does not despair. Instead, she finds solace in knowing she tried her best and leaves the rest up to God.
These people exemplify only a few of the many stages of life. As I look at them, I am able to see how far I have come and how far I still need to travel.
Reading about Juan and your interactions observing him made me smile. It is interesting to see how much we grow as humans from being completely dependent as babies to growing up as independent individuals (depending on what stage of life). I agree with your comment about how we need to appreciate those who support us and how we can definitely take that as a challenge to support others too!
ReplyDeleteI loved your comments about Eli and what challenges each stage of life brings: "As we get older, these challenges get harder, but our abilities to handle them are increased so we can aptly face life's obstacles." I agree with this completely because I am going through a very challenging time right now. Looking back at my life, even a month ago, I see how much I have grown from challenges even though they are still with me.
I can relate to Tina's middle school stage in some ways. I love you comment stating "there are lessons to be learned and even though life may be hard, the stage will eventually pass." This reminds me of my church's sermon topic: "You'll Get Through This". There is a statement we have memorized that ties into your examples that I would like to share:
"With God's power, I'll get through this. It won't be painless. It won't be quick. But God will use this mess for good. I won't be foolish or naïve, but nor will I despair. With God's help, I know, I will get through this."
With this in mind, all I can say about Irene is wow. It sounds like she is doing an amazing job doing her best but more importantly leaving the rest up to God.
Thank you for these examples of some stages of life and how we can use them to reflect upon our own lives!
I really enjoyed this story. Independence can be overpraised too many times. You see, independence can result in departure of Jesus and there are numerous people who fall victim to this. I feel that in every stage in life we are dependent; as we grow older we become more and more dependent on Jesus. While guilt may overcome people for being so dependent of Jesus, everything we do in this world includes Him.
ReplyDeleteI found this story to be very true and also something that I have been learning and thinking abuot a lot lately. I feel that we have so many different people around us of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, and even though we do not have identical lives, we can all share something with each other to help us understand. It was touching to read that by looking at a child, someone can understand and realize that they have been in their shoes without realizing it, but they have overcome so much. Then by looking at someone older than you, people can see what they have to live for, or what they would want to change for themselves, and make it happen. I think God has placed many different people in our paths of life to help us even when we think it is annoying or just something that is hindering us from going other places. I am thankful to God that I have the opportunity to have these moments and experiences, and I am happy for you, that you were able to take this experience and see a positive side.
ReplyDeleteI also found this story to be very true. Recently I have been going through a very stressfull time in my life with nursing school right around the corner and having to grow up and pay the bills and not be able to run to mommy or daddy anymore its only normal to go back and think about your life when you were younger and to wish to be back there. Whats funny is that when you are a child or a teenager all you want to be is older. I also find it very rewarding to watch children of all ages and just observe what they do and what motivates them its a rewarding experience to see other people and how they live there lifes and I thank God every day that I am where I am today and that I have all the many oppurtunities that I have to experience other peoples lives and inspirations.
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