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Nina's Newsletter>
Learning to Accept Changes in My Life
October 12, 2006
Dear Special Friends:
“You’ve got to be kidding!” I declared to the bus
driver who had just called to make plans to pick up Tess
for the new school year. In our school district, for
safety’s sake, children with special needs like Tess get on
the bus in front of their home, opposed to the rest of the
neighborhood kids who must walk to a designated bus stop.
Each school day in past years began when the bus picked my
daughter up at 7:50 am. It was like pulling teeth to get
her up, awake, and through the morning routine in time to
catch the bus at that decent time for 180 days of the
school year. Being ready for the bus at 7:00 am would be
like pulling teeth out of a lion’s mouth instead of a
little girl with Down syndrome!
“You mean to tell me that you have to pick her up at
7:00 AM every morning? We live five minutes from school
and she will be on the bus for over an hour? I don’t think
so” I exclaimed with dismay. “I guess we will just plan on
taking Tess to school in the morning and you can bring her
home on the bus after school.”
“She will be the first to get dropped off. I’ll have
her home about 3:15 each day” Mary Lou, the sweet bus
driver, stated. “Sorry for the change in our route this
year.”
I knew it wasn’t Mary Lou’s fault but that didn’t
change the inconvenience of this new schedule. The next
morning I promptly called the transportation department of
our school system and voiced my concern about putting my
daughter with special needs on the bus for over an hour
each morning. Not surprisingly, the superintendent was too
busy to take my call and I had to leave a message. I still
have not heard from him, but that’s okay this time.
In the meantime, my husband, Andy, or I have taken
Tess to school, and you know what? We like it! We enjoy
it! Tess does, too! She feels special. It gives us a
little bit of time with just her each morning as we make
the little trek through the back roads to school. Her
teacher even commented to us that Tess seems calmer and
more relaxed.
What I had initially perceived to be an insult on our
schedule has turned into something good and beneficial to
each of us. We could have fought for the system to re-route
the others, even hire another driver if necessary to
accommodate what I wanted. I could have insisted that the
new schedule was ridiculous and a hardship. I could have
been aggressive and manipulative to get my way. Instead,
we are blessed every morning with some sweet benefits of
surrendering to the change made by others out of our
control.
The poet, Edith Lillian Young, has penned something I
want to share with you today. For any Phil Keaggy fans out
there, he has also put the lyrics to music. Here is the
poem for you to reflect, absorb and recall as you go about
your challenging lives:
Disappointment -- His Appointment"
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God's better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing,
Tho' it may come in disguise,
For the end from the beginning
Open to His wisdom lies.
"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
Whose? The Lord, who loves me best,
Understands and knows me fully,
Who my faith and love would test;
For, like loving earthly parent,
He rejoices when He knows
That His child accepts, UNQUESTIONED,
All that from His wisdom flows.
"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
"No good thing will He withhold,"
From denials oft we gather
Treasures of His love untold,
Well He knows each broken purpose
Leads to fuller, deeper trust,
And the end of all His dealings
Proves our God is wise and just.
"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
Lord, I take it, then, as such.
Like the clay in hands of potter,
Yielding wholly to Thy touch.
All my life's plan in Thy moulding,
Not one single choice be mine;
Let me answer, unrepining --
"Father, not my will, but Thine."
- Edith Lillian Young
Learning to accept changes in my life,
Nina All Content Copyright © 2006 Nina Fuller All Rights Reserved
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