Skip to main content

Week 8:


This week my blog is all about something that is very near and dear to my heart. For those of you who don't know I have a younger cousin and younger brother who both have autism. My cousin Aaron lives in Odessa, Texas, and has recently graduated High School. For most graduates this is a very exciting time, they start college, move away from home, and get an apartment. However, for Aaron things are much different. Aaron can't go to college, or live on his own, because of the autism Aaron needs to stay home with his family. He needs to have someone watch over him and help him with day to day living. Without school there isn’t anywhere Aaron can go during the day, because of this my aunt retired and stays home with Aaron.

 
For many years my aunt and uncle have prayed God would provide some type of resource, a place where young adults like Aaron could go to continue learning new things. God always finds a way to meet our needs.

 
This week my blessing is simple I donated to an answered prayer. There is a new agency located in Odessa, Texas, called House of the Sycamore Tree.  


 "We are a Christian based agency looking to provide vocational training and residential care for intellectually and economically challenged young adults. As intellectually challenged children grow older, their parents may not be able to care for them or may not be able to provide the skills necessary for this population to reach all of their potential. So therefore, there is an extreme need for a safe facility to accommodate this growing population in both care as well as constructive vocational skills."


I know now is a busy season in life and many of you have given to the hungry, the homeless, or toys for tots. I thank you for your generosity. However, if you haven't given to any charities but want to give this Holiday Season, I encourage you to give to this one. These adults need our help; they aren't lazy and living off the system. They are people trying to be as close to normal as possible. They help make things to sale to raise money for this agency, they learn vocational training, and they want to give back to society!

 
I don't know if any of you have family members or loved ones who have special needs. If you do then you know these young adults are a blessing. They find joy in the little things in life. When my grandfather was alive Aaron brought him such joy. While home under hospice care grandpa and Aaron would carry on conversations for hours. However, most of the conversation consisted of sounds not words. Aaron would grunt ,then grandpa would grunt, then both would laugh hysterically. Grandpa and Aaron shared a unique bound their relationship was much different than grandpa's relationship with the rest of us, probably because Aaron has always just loved. Aaron doesn't care who you are, what color your skin is, or if you're skinny. As long as you can throw and catch a football he'll be your friend, and if you can't do either, he'll sign you a song. Aaron has his bad days too and he isn’t perfect, but Aaron knows how to love. He doesn't hold grudges, he doesn't hate; he simply loves people.

 
How could you not give to an agency whose sole purpose is to help better these young adults? House of the Sycamore Tree desires to show these young adults the same love they show us. If you aren’t able to give to this organization I encourage you to share their information with others. Feel free to share this post or better yet share their website http://houseofthesycamoretree.org/. Please take the time to at least share their story and help spread the word. These people are doing a great thing for this community, and even if this isn't your community take the time to give to a positive difference in our country.

 
At some point in your life I encourage each of you to volunteer to help kids or adults with special needs. I promise you'll be glad you did.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 33:

This blessing took place the week of May 11 th – 17 th . I was beyond blessed this week. I was given an opportunity to go home for few days. I flew out on Thursday, May 15 th . Anytime I fly home I have a layover in Dallas. This usually allows for me to get breakfast or lunch. This being a typical layover I stopped to get some breakfast at McDonalds. Instead of getting my usual, just a breakfast burrito and a drink I felt the need to get the meal. It includes 2 burritos, a hash brown, and a drink. After getting my meal and arriving at my gate. The girl sitting next to me asked where she could find McDonalds. I told her she would need to take the skylink to get there, but she probably wouldn't have time to go and come back before boarding.   I told her I had an extra burrito that she could have if she wanted it. She asked if I was serious, I smiled and said, "Yes, I seriously have an extra burrito and you can have it". I went on to tell her I never get the meal b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 14:

I have a bad habit of being hard on myself. I constantly make jokes about not being good enough. It wasn't until recently when a good friend of mine told me I don't give myself enough credit. She's absolutely right, and I guarantee I'm not alone in this. I know some of you reading this do the same thing. You belittle yourself, or you try and justify you quarks. For example you might make a similar comment, "I'm socially awkward, but the people who love me look past this…" Or "I'm not really sure why people read my blog, I'm not a writer." I could list example after example of not measuring up to the "world's standards", but you know what I've learned? Those standards don't matter; they really don't, because my worth comes from a higher authority. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualifications come from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:5 Here's the deal when God looks ...
Post a Comment
Read more