Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Heavy Heart

My heart is heavy.

You see, there is this boy in Mister Luke's class.
I have interacted with him.
I have taught him spelling rules.
I have helped him with fractions and long division.  
He has shared that his family had moved a lot.
School is difficult for him because...
he has missed certain things along the way.

I have looked into his eyes and seen a boy...
a boy who wants to succeed,
a boy who is an artist,
a boy who is kind to his classmates.


I have never met his family.
I don't know what his home life is like.

I do know that Mister Luke came home after this boy moved here and said-
there is a new boy in my class and I think he needs snow pants... I don't think his parents can afford them. 
Take these Luke and give them to him if you like. 


Yesterday.

Mister Luke-
Mom- something really, really bad happened at school today.


He explained that this boy loses his temper sometimes.
He rips paper when he is frustrated.
He had to stay in for recess.
He lost his temper with his teacher.
He pushed her.
He hit her.
He was sent to the principal.
The police came.
He won't be coming back to school.
He may end up in juvenile hall.

He did an awful thing.
He did a thing that should get you banished from school.

But still...   my heart is heavy.
The teacher is okay... I asked her today.

But, this boy.
I just worry that he is on a path to being lost...  that this is one more thing he will lose along the way... one more thing that will prevent him from having "life."

Redemption. Healing. Self- Control. Hope. Life.

These are what I am praying over him tonight.




20 comments:

*Reading Between the Lines* said...

Praying with you.

Mommy 2

Kelly L said...

Very sad - there are so many children that are lost today... Praying that he finds his way.

Love to you.
Kelly

Lisa Howard said...

Oh, that is so sad! I have encountered children like this in my job and it can be heartbreaking. How wonderful of your family to reach out to him and pray for him. God hears your prayers and they are making a difference, even if you never see it.

Blessings,
Lisa

livinginbetween said...

So many needs . . . it's overwhelming sometimes.

A prayer sent.

Unknown said...

What a sweet, tender heart you have. Praying for you and for him.

Farmgirl Paints said...

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. Breaks my heart. Lifting him up right now.

partialemptynester said...

What a tender heart your son has...thanks for posting, it brings us all to our knees!

Multiple personalities.. said...

Such beautiful and heartfelt words... your caring and concern for this boy is testament to how big your heart is. That's why it feels so heavy now, because it's a big heart full of love and empathy. I pray that things take a turn for the better for this child.

Brigetta's Mom said...

This makes me cry! So many reasons for this to happen and I hope someone finds out before he is a forgotten child of the system!

MamaMonki said...

So sad. I see that lost kids like that in our building too often. Seems to be happening more now than it ever did when we were children. Somthing in society/ homelife has changed too much. I'll be praying for him.

Foursons said...

I groaned outloud when I read that he pushed his teacher. How sad. You KNOW this boy is a product of his environment. I hope someone gives him a lifeline.

Valerie said...

Such a sad situation...I feel for everyone involved. Not just that young man, but for your son, the teacher, etc.

Sometimes, as teachers, we are ill-equipped to deal with certain social situations that arise. I am not, by any means, excusing this young man's behavior, but I have to wonder what transpired that pushed him over the edge.

Sometimes it doesn't take much, and if it wasn't a teacher, it would be another student.

Unfortunately, juve hall isn't going to provide him with social skills necessary for coping with life...for dealing with anger...for dealing with hurt.

Because, in the end...anger is always a product of being hurt.

I'm praying for all of you tonight,
Valerie

Love & Maple Syrup said...

I will keep this young child in my prayers. There's a boy who came into class after Mr. Luke left, who's having a difficult time in class. Helping with field trips and class activities, I've noticed that he just doesn't seem to keep up with the others. Teacher yells at him, and he seems to always be the target. I've just tried to smile at him and talk with him more than the others. He's a good kid. My heart has been heavy as I've walked away. And I pray for him each night. You don't always know about their home lives. You are right where you ought to be, Brigetta.

donahugh43 said...

How sad for that boy and his family. Will be praying for all of them.

JANET! said...

this is sad. i'm adding him to my prayer journal.

a new beginning said...

oh, my heart hurts for him too. what he's experienced thus far in life must have been like nothing most of us can even comprehend. oh how he needs the saving salve of jesus. only He can mend such hurt and brokeness. jesus, heal your son into Your arms.

Karissa Patterson said...

Praying for the boy...that someone else along the way gives him a helping hand...and that he reaches for the Saviour's hand...

Lizzie Emery said...

I found you through your comments on the Brewers blog, and I just wanted to comment on your post. This is such a sad thing, and I feel closely connected to it. I currently am working exclusively with one very angry and bitter boy. I think this strikes me so much because I could definitely see the boy I take care of doing the same thing as the boy in your post. JH would not help him overcome these issues. *sigh* this is sad. Do you know if anything happened with him afterwards?

Angelica Bays, TygrLilies.blogspot.com said...

You and your son were kind to him- that counts. And if he's not getting a lot of love, then that counts even more! God put you in his life for a reason- you know this- just remember it. It's painful to have a tender heart but that's the only way to be effective for God.
(((Hugs))) I hope you hear good things about him soon.

Denise said...

we have a neighbor next door who my heart has been heavy for. God has called us to fight for him in prayer, and we have seen Him working.

one day this boy (9) who lives in hopelessness (dad in prison, mother substance abuse, g-ma legal guardian allowing mom to live there, a schizophrenic aunt recently released from hospital living there too) called and left a message (he'd gone to church with us a handful of times at that point),
this was his message...
"Savior, He can move the mountains, My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save."

:-)

God is mighty to save, he can move mountains (my own life is a testimony of that). i pray he moves mountains in luke's classmates life too.