my new friend.

his name is gabriel. he stands approximately 5'5", tall and lanky, and he's thirteen years old. his voice has changed and there's a slight trace of a mustache on his tan skin. and he's a total sweetheart, but he won't tell you that. this is my buddy in the shooting for success program i'm volunteering with. each thursday night of this month, i get to go and hang out with gabriel and play basketball with him and several other kids. usually i'm worn out after thursday's workday/schoolday is over, but when i step into that gym at 6:00 and gabe runs up to me with that basketball, it's like i've caught my second wind.

ok, so you've met a cute little kid, you say. you tell me that you could just meet one in wal-mart, big whoop. but here's the thing. gabriel is not your average thirteen year old boy, though you wouldn't be able to tell that if you never talked to him. he has a diagnosis that causes him to experience developmental delays, physically and mentally, as well as other symptoms. (for security and other such reasons, his last name and official diagnosis are not given..thanks OT school for pounding HIPAA rules into my head. haha.) he struggles to bounce the ball and is clumsy when it is bounced over to him. so what? he gives it his all and his face glows when he shoots the basketball and it goes into the hoop. you can tell he doesn't get to participate in activities like this much and he just soaks it all in. it's precious.

anyways, while i love telling about my new friend, i say all that to remind myself, not just others, that no matter what may come, what obstacles are in my way, what complaints i have or how stressed i may get sometimes...that i have it good. i am blessed in so many ways, which would require a whole other blog to name. and i am so thankful to be who i am, who God created me to be. i am so excited that He is using me in this program and my other volunteer opportunities to show His love to others. and also that he is using those people, as well, to show me so many new things. i adore gabe and his love for life. and when he quotes our memory verse for the shooting for success program, "i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and flexes his little muscles when he says "strengthens", my heart smiles. because i know that in this moment, in this time, i am right where God wants me. and oh, what a wonderful feeling that is. to know that He has, is, and will use me. how refreshing to be reminded of such a blessing. :)