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Foster Care – “The Wave”

During this season of catching up with family and friends and simply enjoying life, while we are taking a moment to breathe, let us also take a moment to remember the children who have been separated from loving parents who made a mistake and is trying to “right” that mistake.  Such a journey can sometimes be long and arduous.  Pray for strength for both the child(ren) and parent(s) to carry on and stay focused until they are reunited with loved ones.  Meanwhile, below is a poem from this Guardian Ad Litem that captures a moment between a mother whose child is in foster care.

“The Wave”

My child has suffered.

Is suffering.

I want to help but I can only do so much.

She is not with me, not full time.

She is with someone else full time.

She is with me part-time, an hour per week…when I can make it.

A supervised hour per week and perhaps

A supervised phone call per week.

I want to do better. I am trying to do better. I will do better.

She is mine and I must have her back.

I must protect her.  Embrace her.  Empower and strengthen her.

But until then….I will cherish my visits.

I will smile as she gets in the car with the social worker and drives away.

I will watch the car until I can see it no more.

Little fingers waving out of the car window.  My little fingers.  She has my fingers.

Waving.  Waving.  Waving.

I clutch my heart with one hand and wipe streaming tears with the other.

Dr. Connie R. Shipman – 2015

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Do Students Vote with Their Feet?

To all my current or “to be” professors, administrators in higher education, or opinionated folks (regardless of the field), what think ye of the phrase, “students vote with their feet” and how realistic do you think it is?  Should colleges consider this a growing trend or threat and if so, what are some PRACTICAL steps an institution can take to ensure voting feet stay grounded?

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Shock and Gratitude

Tonight, a friend texted me to ask for prayer because she was in the ER with her 11 year old son.  Why?  Because he said he wanted someone to shoot and kill him.  He’d simply lost the desire to live, as he sees no point in doing so.  I asked if this was sudden.  She responded that it’d been gradual.  

You have to understand that this is a child I met when he was around 4 months old.  I have loved him from that day to present.  My first response was to tell him that I needed him to remain here, grow up,  and change lives and then…I was overcome with shock, sorrow, anger, gratitude, and tears that continued for hours.  Shock because I know him to be such a happy and fun loving kid, sorrow because of the present situation, anger because the darkness had the nerve to think it could take him, and gratitude because thoughts did not become actions.  He is still here and there is still an opportunity for prayer, for change, for healing, for growth, for help, for support, for love.  I’m looking foward to a future with him in it. 

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An Attitude of Gratitude

Let us take a moment to be grateful for the things that we usually take for granted, for we rise daily and those things are simply present; hence, easy to overlook.  Shelter, food, jobs, overall health, transportation, friends, family, great church, fellowship, support system, etc.  During this season and always, while we strive to be more and for some of us, to have more, let us reflect on what we do have and say, “Thank You.”  Have a great day, everyone.

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Wasting Time

Today, I wasted time…and it felt good to do it!

Earlier this week, I realized that, other than the 2 days that I took off in mid-summer, each day since that I’ve used for PTO, as well as most of my weekends, was relative to someone else or a commitment. Do understand that I do not regret it, as it means that I have people and causes in my life about which I am passionate, people and causes to whom I am committed. However, it also means that I was beginning to feel a lethargy that I could not shake and so, I took a few hours today to do NOTHING! I forsook the idea to rise this morning and work on the PC and instead I slept in, awoke to make brunch, and then sat my happy tail on the couch to watch “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and “No Escape”, which turned out to be 2 good movie choices. I must say, I’m feeling rejuvenated (I’m on the PC, aren’t I?!??!). Ah, relaxation does the body and mind good. If it was a person, I’d give it a hug.

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MY THERAPY

Dear Reader, Fellow Blogger, Friend,

This site will ask you to ponder, reflect, and freely express your thoughts on different subject matter.  Sure, most of my postings may fit into the categories on the left of the page, but since I love discussion across a spectrum of topics (not debate, there is a difference), only the future can be certain of that which will transfer from my mental cache to this blog site.  Hence, my decision to entitle this site, “My Therapy.”  So, please read, review, comment, enjoy.  Tootles!