Imagine that you take a trip to Sweden, or any foreign country. You are trying to go about with your daily life; everyone is talking to you, and everyone assumes you understand what has been said to you. But you don't understand. You don't speak the language. You're trying, but it's not quite sinking in. Now, imagine that is the first 6 years of your life. Those formative years. You feel lost and unsure every day.
I've just described for you my son.
I have a beautiful, intelligent son who also has a learning disability. He has struggled with a significant receptive language delay for years. We discovered the delay when he was 3 years old. This is deeply personal because it's heartbreaking. He is smart. He picks up on more then I think. This young man, created "fearfully and wonderfully" by the hands of our Creator, should never feel inferior. But he knows enough to know he's not meeting the standards. And it makes him timid in new situations. It overwhelms him with the desire to cut and run, or hide off in the corner, or under his bed covers. He has ideas and intelligence just waiting to burst out of him, but he has difficulty grasping everything being told to him.
When he was young, and after we had discovered the language delay, the kinds of questions we would get from family was "what exactly is wrong with him?"
Excuse me - I don't think I heard you right. What's wrong with him? your grandson? your nephew? my son? Ouch!
What?!
They saw a young man who didn't respond immediately when asked to do something. A little boy who would sit with his toys for 3 minutes or so after you said "come up for dinner". But then, if left for those minutes, he would suddenly jump up and come. Yes, it sunk in. But to them, they saw a child who didn't obey - ergo, there's something wrong with him. It's true they were just trying to understand how he operates. But it's hard on the mom to hear how great and special the other children in the family are - and we have the one that's got "something wrong". Ouch!
In first grade he came home with a verse to memorize. Exodus 4:12. It's God - I AM - speaking to Moses at the burning bush. He tells Moses "Now go! I will be with your mouth and I will teach you what to say." Oh, then the tears came. I claimed that verse for my son on the spot. That same paper, with his own markings on it, is still on my cabinet.
We're in a new school this year. A school, as it turns out, he loves. A school with a fantastic team to work with him. I think his speech teacher is listening. His homeroom teacher is really more wonderful than I imagined was possible. His special education teacher is completely going the extra mile. I'm so grateful to them. But, there's that warning light flashing, and it makes me want to wrap my arms around my son to ward off the darts. I'm uneasy and disheartened by the Vice Principal and her preconceived ideas about him. It is exhausting to have to say the same things over and over again. Is anybody listening?
About the first week of school he was asked to give a speech in front of his class. No big deal. Tell the class about yourself. Easy, right?
Oh no! my heart screamed.
Followed immediately by - did he just see the look on my face?My insides seized and cramped up as I looked over the assignment. What is he going to say?
And then a familiar verse crept into my heart "Go! I will teach you what to say"
YHWH - I AM - will teach my son what to say.
This is an excerpt of one of his practice speeches
