In the chaos of children and adults swarming around to get to their seats. Above all the noise of the music, I felt as if someone had smacked me upside the head. My head turned without having to search for why because my eyes landed on a little boy in the crowd. My thoughts immediately turned to Teddy Stallard's story.
You see two years ago an unruly, full of anger and an I don't care attitude little boy entered my life unexpectedly at Vacation Bible School. At the time he was all of three years old. But the determined person I am....and the one who much prefers to have the hard to reach students because for some reason I feel God granted me with a gift to love these people, I was determined that S.C. was going to listen and he was going to have a good time and he was going to feel loved...if only for a few short hours.
Recently S.C. entered my life again although he did not know it. You see, on Tuesday mornings I would stand out at the car rider line in the wee hours of the morning to let students out. At first I wasn't sure, but after a few weeks and some double checking, I knew for sure this was the same S.C. from VBS 2009.
As chance would have it, on Monday evening as I picked up our nametags, something made me turn around. Right behind me was S.C. and grandma who was filling out the registration form. A little part of me hoped he would be in my group (some people probably think I am a glutton for punishment). I immediately asked S.C. if he had been in Ms. S's class this past year. Grandma looked at me to which I explained how I knew...I worked at the school.
I went on about my business of getting my own kids something to drink and settled in not thinking much of it. When we headed to find a place at a table, I saw the green lanyard hanging from his neck. S.C. was going to be in my group!?.
I could feel the thoughts of those in the room. Some of indifference, not knowing the reputation of this child and others filled with "Oh no! He's back!" Let me remind everyone right now of John 8:7 "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone." While this in no way implies that any child or grandchild is the same as or worse than S.C., just remember that there are plenty of children all around us who may need some help in the behavior department, so think of the behavior of your own before you start criticizing the behavior of another.
Now back to S.C., while he has gotten better over the past 2 years, I quickly learned that S.C. remains full of hate and inappropriate behavior. It's is disheartening to see such fury behind eyes of a five year old. But I knew that with constant high expectations and letting him know that I was there and that I cared we would make the few hours we had together some good hours.
As the hours and days went on, I cannot think of too many in my mixed age group who did not have a complaint about S.C. and even a few adults around commented to me about their concern with his rudeness and anger when he would be dropped off by himself when the doors opened. But you know what? On that last night of VBS, I cannot recall the students in my group saying one negative thing about S.C. There was also a remarked difference behind those cold eyes that over the past few days one had to really search to find the slightest hint of a child and of hope behind. You see that last night, there was radiance (though not the whole night) behind those deep chocolate brown eyes.
That's why God smacked me upside the head during the closing ceremonies. S.C. needs someone in his life like Miss Thompson was there for Teddy Stallard. When I looked up and saw S.C. I could only think of Teddy. I do not know what will become of S.C. and maybe our paths will cross again next year.
For those of you who do not know Teddy's story, grab some tissues and listen.
