There are some moments in life that make you stop in your tracks...that take your breath away.  Today I got one of those at church.  I've written about our buddy Skipper before - he is disabled and in a wheelchair - and although those are probably the first words anyone would use to describe him - those are the last words that truly define him.  The best words that define Skipper are 1) HUGE smile, 2) SWEETEST disposition, 3) LOVES to go bowling, 4) has a massive tender heart.  Skipper sits at the back of our church in his wheelchair every single sunday.  He lives in a group home in Bellevue..and has gone to our church for at least a decade.  He is loved, understood, and honored at Calvary Chapel Eastside - just as he should be.  But for me personally, the thing I love most about Skipper is that he LOVES my kids.  And Casey is getting juuuuuust old enough where he now knows Skipper - and today Casey bounded up to him and said 'HEY SKIP!' and gave Skipper a huge smile.  Skipper smiled his gigantic smiled and said, 'Hi Casey - how are you?  I bowled a strike this week!'  Casey said, 'what's a strike?' 

Well our church had a swap meet this week and I had grabbed a book I was excited to show Casey because it had caterpillars, ladybugs and butterflys in it - and Casey is currently an insect fanatic.  So while he and Skipper were discussing the finer elements of bowling, I grabbed the book and showed it to Casey who was dying to have me read it to him.  I saw a twinkle in Skipper's eyes, and he said, 'Casey...want to sit on my lap and read the book?'

And this is where my heart swelled.  Casey looked at me - and I knew for a fact that sitting on Skipper's lap was waaaay out of his comfort zone.  But I didn't want to speak for Casey so I just looked at him and told him, 'you can say yes or no - either way it's okay.'  Casey ( bless his soft little heart) clambored up over Skip's lifeless legs - over the bolts and levers on his wheelchair - over the bulky leg abductor - and Casey found a place to sit amidst all the hardware and settled in. 

I could tell Casey was uncomfortable.  He kept kind of sliding off, so Skip clasped both hands around Casey's waist which kind of made matters worse because Skip wears braces around his hands which are big and clunky and kind of smushed Casey.  But my little angel sat there until that entire book was finished - uncomfortable as he could be - and Skipper grinned from ear to ear the whole time.  With each page turn, Skip would chime in, 'Casey - look at the Ladybug!  Wow buddy!'  I could tell Skip was really trying to make this fun for Casey - probably wanting this to become a tradition.  So we read through the book - and Casey kept sneaking peeks with a furrowed brow, down at the hand braces that were holding him in place.  And at the end of the book Casey squiggled off and skipped away - leaving Skipper with a big grin and (hopefully) feeling loved.

I didn't say anything then, but later on in the day I pulled Casey aside and said, 'hey little man - I want to tell you how proud I am of you!!  I know it was kind of scary to climb up on Skipper's lap.' 

Casey nodded and said, 'yeah - it felt kind of weird.'  I said, 'yes - I could tell you were uncomfortable.  But you know what?  Skipper can't walk and has to sit in that wheelchair all day.  He doesn't get to feel as close to people as we do.  And you were brave, and kind, and it made Skipper's day that you were sitting on his lap!' 

Casey said, 'he can't walk cuz his brain is different like Cody?'  'Yes - that is exactly right' I said.  'And you know what Casey - he smiled sooooo big when you sat on his lap and read that book.  Now I  know it was scary and you don't have to do it again if you don't want to.  It will always be your choice.' 

Casey then looked at me with complete conviction and said, 'but mom - even though I was scared - I WANT to do it again!'

Now, the list of reasons I'm grateful for Cody's disease equals about zero usually....but yesterday...I had to admit that Casey's desire to bless Skipper is no doubt borne from his compassion for his brother.  Casey's seen a lot in his short little life - and he is really becoming open to experiencing the world of special needs people.  I think Casey finds them interesting rather than off-putting.  And the cool thing is it's a win/win - Skipper was blessed by Casey - but I know for sure that Casey was equally blessed.  The Skippers of the world go through more just getting out of bed and taking a shower - than most of us endure in a week.  How profitable for Casey to embrace such a man, who will no doubt teach him so much about perserverance, endurance, courage, and true joy.  

with love,

Shawna