Doin' the Park at Negative Warp Speed

Tonight I took Alec and Elise, my five year old, to the park. It's a park with big play equipment and always a lot of kids running around. Everyone is in warp speed, climbing, skipping, and running. Everyone but Alec.

Sometimes, it's hard to watch him there. He can do about everything at the park ... climb the highest ladder and slide down, navigate the rope climbs, the play rock, the bouncing bridges that traverse different sections of the equipment. I am very thankful for that.

But...Alec is so much slower than the other kids! Even the little ones. He carefully thinks out every move. Often, he hangs onto my hand with all of his might, mustering up courage to give something a go. It's hurts my heart sometimes to watch him, wishing that he could run and keep up with the other kids his age. He's a big, strong boy but there are some sensory things going on that keeps him back. It's at times like that when I am so confused, trying to figure out exactly what is going inside of him, wishing I could understand.

It's those times that I really have to rely on my faith. When I just don't understand, I just have to trust. I can always look back over my life, all of the things that didn't make sense at the time, and see how much God was really in control. I'm thankful for that and I believe that. He has never let me down, and I know that He won't let me down in taking care of Alec. I pray every night that Alec will be everything that God wants him to be, and I know He will.

I love the time when Alec does run. He really is a happy little kid! He can do so much. Maybe this journey will be a slow one, a little harder for him than most kids, but maybe that difficulty will make him enjoy life all the more. I feel like that. I love those kids with all of my heart. Each day is a blessing, a gift.