“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”             

Jeremiah 29:11

When I was a toddler I couldn’t talk, literally. I really don’t remember being that young or what it was like to have no words. I’ve been in speech therapy since before I was two years old. My parents, sister, grandma, and even preschool teachers here at Bethel learned sign language just so that I could communicate with them. My first verbal words “mama” and “more” came at 3 1/2 years old. Mom told me it was the best Christmas gift she could’ve ever asked for.

It wasn't that I didn’t want to talk, my brain and fine motor skills weren’t developing as fast as most kids. Now today, if you know me, you know that I love to talk, especially about sports and what’s going on at school.

Over the years, I’ve gone through some tough times with other kids and even a teacher. Things have been said to me like “You talk like a robot” or “You say things weird“. Sometimes people just don’t understand me or what I’m saying and Language Arts classes can be a real challenge.

Why did I just tell you all this? Because even with all this going on, I still believe that God wants the best for me. God didn’t give me this challenge because he wanted to hurt me. I believe He gave me this challenge to overcome. God gives me strength and determination and my family, friends, and teachers have been there encouraging me the whole time.

I heard the story of Moses from Exodus 4:10-12 where Moses is afraid to speak as God has instructed. This really had a connection to me. Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently or in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” But the Lord said to him, “Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I myself will be your mouth, and instruct you in what you are to say.”

Like I said above, I’m still working on this everyday. I know that God made me just how He wanted, and is with me as I speak. These challenges have made me more aware of others with challenges and how to be kind and caring toward them. I’ve become a WEB leader at my school, helping 6th graders with their first year of middle school. I give them tours and give video presentations in my classes and yell signals to my football teammates. I can’t wait to see what God’s plan to prosper is for my future.

Prayer: Dear God, please remind us that You want only the best for us and You are with us as we make our futures a reality. Amen.