So when all of us got to the camp, we were assigned a camper, and were their buddy for the weekend. Me and one of my youth group leaders, Tracy, got paired up with a boy named Johnny (That't not his real name but it's for privacy reasons). He was around 14 and had some intellectual disabilities as well as autism. But he had really pretty, blue eyes and tiny freckles all over his face. He also loved the book Tarzan, which was ironic because I am technically in the story haha. It was really cool to meet him for the first time, but it was really hard to communicate, because he was nonverbal. We did many activities with the kids, but it was difficult to get Johnny to do any of them, because he didn't really understand some of them or didn't like them. And he tended to hit a little if he didn't get to do what he wanted to do. Until the middle of the second day, Tracy and I had a hard time controlling Johnny. But on that second day, we discovered something new about him. We found out that he really enjoyed to take out our hair ties from our hair, and then tell us to put them back in our hair. He also liked us to tie his hair with a hair tie too. It sounds kind of odd, but I could tell that he really liked it, and it made him happy. And he was so gentle about it. He took the hair tie out of my hair slowly and carefully so I didn't get hurt. It was actually really crazy how good of a memory he had though. Even when there was around 5 different hair ties, some even the same color and from different people, he knew exactly which was whose.
After getting to spend the weekend with Johnny, I've realized that he has taught me so much. He's taught me to be more patient with people. I am not a patient person at all, and so in the beginning I was really frustrated with Johnny and how he couldn't communicate verbally. But I ended up learning to understand that he needs more patience and love. And instead of communicating verbally, I got to use a lot of sign language which was probably the coolest thing ever. But the patience doesn't only apply to kids with special needs, but with everyday people in my life. And another thing Johnny showed me, was to be happy no matter what. I know that he wasn't always the happiest person but a lot of times he was. Johnny would have these random bursts of happiness, or smile because I tied his hair up. His laughs and smiles were so genuine, and I don't think you could find that anywhere else. Just the way his eyes lit up was really a beautiful sight.
It's so amazing to think that these kids are still so happy with their lives even with a disability. I mean we are always complaining about how unfortunate our lives are, even though we are blessed with a healthy mind. Yet the kids who go through obstacles everyday because of their special needs, are able to see the good in so many things. They live lift to the fullest, and take good advantage of it. And even with their learning disabilities, in the end their special needs are exactly what they are: just special needs. I know that their diagnosis' can challenge them, but I find that it's just something they have to deal with, just like normal people. And we all know that they don't acquire the skills normal people have, but they may also have skills we can't ever have. They're a model to us and how we should lives our lives; being thankful because you're blessed. And that's why God made them the way they are. Except so many people don't understand why these disabilities exist. And they need to know that God made everyone the way they are for a purpose. He created these kinds of kids so that God's glory could be shown through them. And I witnessed that this weekend. In a sense it's a blessing.
I just wanted to thank Johnny for teaching me so much, and making my weekend great. I have never seen such pure joy in anyone I know. He's made me see the world in such a better perspective. And I also thank all of the other kids at Jill's House this weekend too. Because of them, I've realized that there are so many good things in life to appreciate, that there isn't time to do anything else. And if they can be happy with disability, then I can be happy without one.
A Man Born Blind
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of
God might be displayed in him." -John 9:3
-Janey
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