Jul. 10, 2006 - Gift Exchange Night
One Sunday evening each month our church has Gift Exchange Night. That's a time when everyone has an opportunity to share a poem or a testimony or a talent the Lord has given them with the congregation. It's a really fun night, and it really bonds us as a church as we are encouraged by one another in such a special, pure way.
Last night my son, Isaac, age 11, who has a diagnosis of autism and other things, got up in front of the congregation and read the words to the song, "Jesus and Others And You." It was his idea. He loves reading out loud. Woo hoo! Progress!! I was so pleased. We also led the congregation in singing it.
I have been singing that song since I was a little girl, and it is such a simple truth to remember:
Jesus and Others and You
What a wonderful way to spell JOY.
Jesus and Others and You
In the life of each girl and each boy!
J is for Jesus for He has first place
O is for others you meet face to face
Y is for you and whatever you do!
Put yourself third
And spell
JOY!
Then Isaiah, Isaac's twin, who has the same disabilities, decided he wanted to share something. I had no idea he was going to do this.
Let me back up a little. First, you should know, we are a small little church, and we are not formal. My husband is the pastor, and the people in our church are very loving and accepting. We have a lot of special needs people who attend, and it is just a really warm community -- like a real family.
Okay, so, in this atmosphere of love and acceptance, Isaiah went up to the Clavinova (electronic keyboard) on stage. I play this keyboard in all the services. Well, I didn't realize it but Isaiah had figured out the preprogrammed music in it. He went up to the piano, pushed a button, and a classical song began to play. You can't see the keyboard from the congregation, as the back of it faces out. So, when Isaiah popped his little head over the top of the music stand and just grinned from ear to ear, it looked like he was really playing it! It was hilarious!
He'd look down at the keyboard, look up and grin ear to ear, look down at the keyboard, look up and grin. And then, the most hilarious thing of all -- the thing that almost made me wet my pants laughing -- he scratched his head! It made it look like he was playing that song with his toes!!
People in the congregation were laughing with red faces and tears. It was such a precious, funny thing. Isaiah thought he was really doing something -- or did he know he was being funny? I don't really know. But it was a moment of pure joy. And we all got to enjoy it.
My little boys bring me such unmeasured joy. I love being their Mom!!
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About Me
I have 5 children and three grandchildren. My oldest two children are married with children of their own. My youngest three are still at home. My middle child is 15 has bipolar, semantic-pragmatic disorder, hypothyroidism, adhd, dyslexia, giftedness and other issues. My youngest children, twins, are 11 and have autism, mental retardation, communication disorder, and all the behaviors that go with those lovely diagnoses!
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