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Along with some of you, I was blessed by the following story recently . . .
I would like to share a story with you all that represents the true spirit of the majority of students at Gibbs.
We have a special education student whose name is John Rose. He transferred here from Central where he was very involved as a manager with the athletic program. He had a horrible home life and decided that he needed to leave, and his new foster parents live in the Gibbs Community.
He is the manager of the football and boys’ basketball teams. The boys on the basketball team decided to ask their coach if it would be possible for John to dress out and play in a game. Coach Anderson got it cleared through TSSAA and John was allowed to dress out last Tuesday night. The boys played well and John was able to play in the third and fourth quarters. During this time, he shot and made two three-pointers. When he went in the game, the crowd went wild. Several students had painted his name on their chest. They even carried John off the court after the game. The next day, John was a celebrity at school. He wore a sign on his shirt that said "Kiss Me I am a Basketball Player.”
Since that time, the students and fans at Gibbs have collected almost $400. With that money, a letterman's jacket and a digital camera were purchased for John. (He carries around a film camera and always takes pictures.) Both items will be presented to him by the students on Thursday night at the ballgame during senior night activities. I am sure the gym will be packed and John will feel special once again.
I just wanted to share this story because we tend to only hear bad things about kids these days and the good ones are never shared. John will once again feel special, but we are the ones who will be truly blessed.
Thanks for letting me share his story.
As I read this story, I was moved not only by the kindness of John’s fellow students, but also by his courage in facing the challenges that life has brought his way. What a good feeling to know that others see him facing those challenges and have been moved to encourage him and to see something good in him.
While reading this story, I was also thinking about our worship focus for the next few weeks -- witnessing. After I had read John’s story, I sat still for a minute letting the power and beauty of it soak in. Those students, coaches and school administrators gave John a gift. They gave him something that he would not have had except for their generous acts of kindness and mercy. In giving, they not only shared a blessing with another, they were blessed themselves in the sharing.
When we tell the story of what Jesus Christ has done for us we also give a gift. We give a gift that might never have been shared except that we shared it. In giving, we find the joy and blessing that comes for seeing a life full of challenges and obstacles become the abundant life God created it to be.
Joy and Peace,
Ed
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