My kids are enrolled in a Christian school because my wife & I would prefer that they be taught with Biblical values along with the understanding of today's culture. It's not a Christian school that tries to shelter kids from the reality of life, but teaches kids how to deal with the reality of life.
That reality came alive this year when Gabriel entered into my oldest son's life. Most kids at the school come from Christian families who seemingly have all their lives wrapped up in a pretty Christmas box with a red bow on top. Gabriel, on the other hand, comes from a family where his parents have been in & out of incarceration. His father is out west & his mom is back East--neither having a desire to see their son...much less have any involvement with his 9 year old life. He, instead, spends his time with his mother's parents...not even having his own bedroom.
Gabriel (in the striped shirt) with Cameron & his friends.
Gabriel has had behavioral issues at school from calling other students (like my son) unkind names (like "idiot") to slapping/hitting other students (of which my son has also experienced). He's had several warnings & visits to the office. Last Friday, he was suspended for the day, which included his being unable to participate in the annual school Christmas program. Remember, Gabriel is in 4th Grade.
Once, after an incident involving my son, a school administrator took Gabriel aside to talk to him about why he was acting the way he was. The school official asked particularly why he was calling my son an "idiot". He replied because "[he] has a dad & I don't". When we told our son about this, he sobbed & exclaimed, "It's not FAIR!"
How's that for a reality check?
We decided to look this one-eyed monster in the face. We've invited Gabriel to have a sleepover & spend a couple of days with us. My oldest son actually made the initial move to ask if he could have Gabriel over. We're going to make a trip to the annual The Miracle of Christmas production at Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA. Then the boys & I will get up early Saturday morning to go to our church's mens prayer breakfast before coming back home & do some sledding down our hilly front yard. We found out that Gabriel really has no one to play with where he lives at his Grandparent's house.
We also told our son that he's welcome--if the subject came up--to "volunteer" us to be Gabriel's "adopted" family (and to "volunteer" me to be his "adopted" dad), if he wants.
In talking with Gabriel's grandmother as we set up his sleepover, we found out he also has a bedwetting issue. No surprise considering the drama going on in his life. So we certainly have our work cut out for us. But this is what God commands us to do... Even though Gabriel is getting some Godly direction at a Christian school, it doesn't stop there. It takes involvement. It takes living outside the box. It takes risk. And it may even cost something.
There are plenty other "Gabriels" that we may not even know or recognize...some that actually attend our churches or go to our schools. Some may be in our own family.
It was the angel Gabriel who announced the Good News to the shepherds which we celebrate each Christmas season. Will we be the ones to show the fruits of that "Good News" to all of the other "Gabriels" in this world?
1 comment:
God bless you & your boys, Phil. I knew some kids like this in the classes I taught and it was heartbreaking to see how some of them were treated by their peers. Glad to see your boys step up and do what's right instead of doing what's easy.
Praying for all y'all.
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