This is a story my grandmother emailed me and I encourage everyone to read it. Each of the children that we have met at Ridge Crest are Blue Roses, a very very special kind.
Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I
offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which
included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox.
So off I went.
I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the
checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young
man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry,
so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This
was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a
loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."
It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he
turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His
eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy,
what's your name?"
"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.
"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my
name is Steve."
"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you
Denny?"
"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over
from the next aisle.
"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."
I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more
minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes
dance with excitement, because he was the centre of someone's
attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.
Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking
the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't
even look at him, much less talk to him.
I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no
idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy
Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink
roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should
be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is
a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their
heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a
blessing from God.
She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked,
"Who are you?"
Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I
sure love living in God's garden."
She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then
I had tears in my eyes.
May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, whichever
differences that person may have, don't turn your head and walk off.
Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of
GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child,
grandchild, niece, nephew or any other family member. What a
difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.
From an old dandelion! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to the powers that be.
"People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel !"
If this story touched you today, please consider sharing it with
others. It's a good one and don't we hear or read enough awful ones
that this makes a good change?
This past session we made no sew bandanna bags. It was a great time for all of us. This time when we arrived the kids were watching a movie, Tinton to be exact. The kids loved the movie, watching them giggle at parts of the movie and respond to it in certain ways were fantastic. It was interesting to see the many different expressions they gave from excitement to fear. As they watched the movie we tied the knots in the bags. The kids had some difficulty doing this but they helped each of the volunteers to complete the bags for them. They helped with encouragement, excitement and their smiles. Each of them picked the colors they wanted and helped us to decide which ways to tie them. Each of them had their own personality. Thursday is the last day that we will be spending with the kids during the duration of my project, but it will most definitely not be the last time I see each of these kids. I want to return and spend time with them, as do many of the volunteers on my team. These kids have made a great impact on so many of us, each of them are special in their own ways and have made a special place in each of our hearts.
Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I
offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which
included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox.
So off I went.
I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the
checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young
man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry,
so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This
was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a
loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."
It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he
turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His
eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy,
what's your name?"
"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.
"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my
name is Steve."
"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you
Denny?"
"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over
from the next aisle.
"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."
I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more
minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes
dance with excitement, because he was the centre of someone's
attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.
Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking
the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't
even look at him, much less talk to him.
I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no
idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy
Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink
roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should
be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is
a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their
heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a
blessing from God.
She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked,
"Who are you?"
Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I
sure love living in God's garden."
She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then
I had tears in my eyes.
May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, whichever
differences that person may have, don't turn your head and walk off.
Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of
GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child,
grandchild, niece, nephew or any other family member. What a
difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.
From an old dandelion! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to the powers that be.
"People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel !"
If this story touched you today, please consider sharing it with
others. It's a good one and don't we hear or read enough awful ones
that this makes a good change?
This past session we made no sew bandanna bags. It was a great time for all of us. This time when we arrived the kids were watching a movie, Tinton to be exact. The kids loved the movie, watching them giggle at parts of the movie and respond to it in certain ways were fantastic. It was interesting to see the many different expressions they gave from excitement to fear. As they watched the movie we tied the knots in the bags. The kids had some difficulty doing this but they helped each of the volunteers to complete the bags for them. They helped with encouragement, excitement and their smiles. Each of them picked the colors they wanted and helped us to decide which ways to tie them. Each of them had their own personality. Thursday is the last day that we will be spending with the kids during the duration of my project, but it will most definitely not be the last time I see each of these kids. I want to return and spend time with them, as do many of the volunteers on my team. These kids have made a great impact on so many of us, each of them are special in their own ways and have made a special place in each of our hearts.
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