Day 26-Faith in Action
It is my prayer that yesterday helped us do some self-introspection about insecurities we might unknowingly be putting on our children and those we love. We have to allow God to be God in their lives. He did not give us the title of Holy Spirit Jr. No, really…He didn’t. We have to let go and let God.
As we prepared to send Ryan back to public high school after 5 years of home school, we had a motto; “Ryan, Jesus loves you and wants to do amazing things in your life.” I had to say it everyday when Ryan would complain about his high school plight. Repeating our motto over and over was probably for my reassurance as much as it was for Ryan.
We prepared Ryan to the best of our ability and prayed that The Lord would provide caring students and teachers along the way. Ryan was the only Deaf student at Durant High School who signed. He was mainstreamed in regular education classes with a full-time sign language interpreter that went to each class with him. He also had a Deaf Education Resource Teacher, Sandy, who was a life line of support that helped keep him on track in the classroom.
A couple of weeks after school started, the student government adopted Ryan and invited him to eat lunch with them everyday. Some of them were in ASL (American Sign Language) class with Ryan and enjoyed practicing their signing skills with him. He was also in TV Production class and signed the morning announcements. His TV Production classmates became great friends to Ryan.
It took some time but we truly began to see Ryan blossom and mature through the kindness of others. He was doing well with his school work and grades. The teachers and administrators knew him and loved him. It was not uncommon to be out somewhere and hear, “Hey, Ryan!” from classmates.
Ryan is an amazing young man. He has an infectious laugh and witty sense of humor. He loves to joke around and is loyal to those he loves. Ron and I knew this about him. It took entering high school for Ryan to learn this about himself.
Ryan entered his senior year of high school in 2015-2016. He was blessed with an amazing, caring, out of this world interpreter named Pam. She is a Christian and regularly prayed with Ryan before tests. The two of them had a special relationship. She was an answer to prayer.
As much as Ron and I prayed for and encouraged Ryan, he had to do the hard work of “putting himself out there.” He’s a Deaf kid who signs. Some people have no idea what to do with that. But, the more Ryan stepped out of his comfort zone, the more The Lord blessed his efforts. God showed up and showed off in Ryan’s life.
Ryan was asked to prom by a beautiful, kind, and sweet friend named Seida. She even did a “prom-posal” for Ryan to make it special. The cherry on top of the sundae for Ryan’s high school career…Ryan was voted Prom King by his senior class of 2016. It is a memory he will carry with him always of God’s faithfulness in his life.
Our God wants to show up in awe-inspiring ways in the lives of those we love! He brought our motto to fruition in Ryan’s life…We serve a mighty God!
“Ryan, Jesus loves you and wants to do amazing things in your life.”
- Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
What is made perfect in our weakness?
- Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
In your own words, write verse 9:
- Read Psalm 71:18…let it sink in for a moment.
Our obedience and faith in Jesus is far reaching…to our children, grandchildren, family, friends, co-workers, co-laborers, and the list goes on and on. The legacy of faith that we pass down will be weak or strong. Our dependence on Christ should be a strong faith established and lived out with courage. A weak faith is self-focused and allows fear to control our actions. Then, in turn we impose our anemic faith on those we love.
We need to raise up a generation who seeks and depends on Jesus daily. What would the world look like if we raised up men and women who stepped over their fear and insecurities to impact the world for Christ? What if they were others focused instead of self-focused?
I am thankful for the students at Durant High School whose parents taught them compassion and love for others. Ryan was the recipient of their selfless, Christ-like love. They were exhibiting the fruit of The Spirit toward Ryan that reassured him of His Creator’s faithfulness.
 Pray  over those in your life that need an extra dose faith encouragement today. Don’t put God in a box. He is omnipotent and will accomplish the impossible.
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” Â 1 Corinthians 2:9
