This Week's Hour-by-Hour Power Scripture

UTILIZE: Zechariah 7:9

REALIZE:  Zechariah was the mouthpiece for the Lord and he gave the Lord credit for the words he spoke.   What God wanted from these weary, stubborn, misguided laborers was just a few simple displays of the heart in action:  I paraphrase, "Don't give up!  Don't doubt the One who has called you to this task!  Don't be mean and cruel to those around you!  Comfort others!

Janet J. was one of my best friends in elementary school.  She had a twin brother, Jimmy, and they were both gentle, quiet kids who were both lean and lanky with blonde hair and porcelain skin.  I remember the day Janet got in trouble for falling asleep on her textbook during 5th grade math and our teacher sternly told Janet to pick up her head and listen.  It was uncharacteristic of Janet to doze off but she apologized and we continued the lesson.  The next day Janet was absent from school, and the next, and the next.  We learned that Janet had not simply fallen asleep at school, she had passed out.  The diagnosis was a brain tumor that needed to be treated aggressively.  Janet missed most of 5th grade math as well as all subjects that year.  She received radiation treatments that kept her sick and too frail to come to school.  I missed her and was so glad to learn she would be back in class the following week. I was shocked to see Janet slowly enter the classroom, wearing a bandana on her head.  It wasn't normally allowed.  She looked tired yet I saw hope in her eyes as she sat in her seat and we began the school day.  At recess, she and I slowly walked out to the playground together and she said she wasn't feeling all that well.  Just about that time, a boy zoomed past us and grabbed the kerchief off Janet's head.  Bald!  So that's why she was wearing the scarf - to keep her head warm and to protect her features.  My heart sank as I saw my friend cringe in embarrassment, cover her face with her hands, and start to cry.  I wrapped my arms around her and she wept into my shoulder.  "I just wanted to come back to school to be normal again" she sobbed.  I gave those boys a stern look and assertively told them to stop being mean. 

I realize now that was my first experience as an advocate for someone with special needs.  It was also the last time I saw my young friend.  A short time later, Janet's brother, Jimmy, was absent from school for a couple of days.  When he returned, Jimmy had a different look in his eye, one that said he'd experienced grief and had to grow up too fast to the harsh reality of death.  Janet had died.  The last memory I have of Janet is her weeping on my shoulder.

I think of Janet every now and again and wonder how Jimmy is doing.  I wonder how his parents got through life losing their daughter.  I also wonder in the scheme of life if the Lord allowed Janet to impact my life as the first stepping stone to becoming an advocate for my own two children with special needs and for those He has placed in my sphere of influence. 

In your own serving, follow the three points in this verse in obedience to the Lord: 

*show mercy (don't join in with those who tease and bully the oppressed)

*show compassion to one another (even when you feel weary, extend compassion to others)

PERSONALIZE:

Share with us the first time you had to advocate for someone with special needs.

Scroll below to add your comments on the Prayer and Praise Board!  I look forward to hearing from you!

                                           Special Strength Prayer/Praise/Share Board

Welcome to our Special Strength Prayer Board. We invite you to post a personal prayer request, share an answer to prayer or share from your heart after reading this week's Hour by Hour Power Scripture!

 You are not alone.

Let other special moms support you in prayer.

We are here for you!