Elijah’s List Part 2

As a parent it is a precious gift to be able to witness from the sidelines milestones in your child’s life. Yesterday Justin shared a small step in the life of our Elijah. I have to admit as his mom finding and reading his list melted my heart but not for reasons you might think.

Many of us have sweet memories of the hopes and dreams of who or what we want to become when we get older. But “older” has come and many of us are left with the battle scares of life. Our once hopes and dreams have become a distant childhood memory.

When Elijah was born for a few brief seconds the room became quiet as they realized there was a knot in his umbilical chord… but he was fine. He was a healthy baby boy.

Six months later he would be hospitalized because he was unable to breath. He would continue to return to the hospital every six months until the age of three.

At age two and half he had no speech. Yes he could make sounds but not real words, not even momma (he called me “ah-ah”). He screamed ALL the time. He screamed when he was happy and he screamed when he was mad. He screamed so much as a toddler that he has permanently damaged his vocal chords.

By age three we found out that he is a severe asthmatic and has allergies. He immediately went on medications and has not had a major asthma attack since 2003.

By third grade we noticed Elijah’s handwriting was not improving and he struggled with homework even though he was super smart. We had him tested and found that his handwriting was at the same level as his five-year-old brother.

By fourth grade he also continued to struggle with peer relationships. So we decided to have him tested both for fine and gross motor skills as well as social behavioral skills to try and put the pieces together as to how to help him. The diagnosis… Major Depression Disorder and at the precious age of nine Elijah had became suicidal.

Are you exhausted from this list? Does this seem like a childhood filled with hopes and dreams? Maybe you resonate with Elijah’s list? You face one hurdle in life and just as you jump over it you are faced with another. But yet there is His list. His sweet list filled with hopes and dreams. Hope that comes from a deep belief in a Savior that can, has and will do the impossible. In the midst of his painful journey Elijah continues to embrace a Savior that has been there with him through it all.

Although I knew we were getting close to putting the pieces together as to how to help Elijah I knew that his depression wasn’t from MDD. So we pressed on and kept asking questions and seeking help. Elijah’s willingness to continue to fight for help has always amazed Justin and I and we believe that God continues to shape his heart.  By winter of his fourth grade year we finally received a HUGE piece of the puzzle. Elijah has Attention Deficit Disorder. Having the right diagnosis and medication became LIFE CHANGING for Elijah!!! Although life isn’t perfect Elijah IS STILL MAKING A LIST.

So today I’d like to  challenge you to re-read Elijah’s list and ask yourself in the midst of shattered dreams, where hope seems lost, are you willing to make your own list…Again