This week has been tough for me...not going to lie about that. Monday night I received a call from my mom that literally made my heart cry out to the Lord. A special boy named, Keith had lost conciousness and they were having trouble reviving him....
Keith was a special needs student that rode in the Special Needs Surban with us in Colorado but that is not how I first met him. I met Keith through his AMAZING parents Fred and April Schneider. Fred and April had taken Keith in as a permanent placement through the Foster Care system in Colorado. He had extreme autisim as well as many other physical and mental disabilities...yet Fred and April did more than give him a home, they made Keith their own for life.
Like many of the special needs people I have known, Keith had a pure joy and contentment about him. Although non-verbal, Keith communicated his joy through his AMAZING smile and his contagious laughter in his eyes! Just about every time I was around Keith - he was full of joy. My very favorite memory of Keith was one day while we were waiting for some other students to get out of school. I was standing outside the window of the surban and Keith just grabbed my hand and smiled...in his special way, he was showing me his love! His actions said so much more than words ever could and I know he was able to do that and more with his parents and family.
Tuesday morning I learned that Keith had passed away...my heart broke for Fred and April...my heart broke for Keith's brothers and sisters...my heart broke. This beautiful boy filled with joy was gone from this Earth. Yet, almost immediately I had a very different image...I had a picture of Keith standing strong and tall, healthy and whole, running toward the arms of Jesus! All his pain, all his disabilities are no more! What a picture of freedom!!!
Yes - my heart is broken and sad, yes his family is hurting and in pain, but I know and they know that Keith is in the arms of the one who created him and loves him immensely! I am thankful that the Lord chose me to know Keith if only for a brief time...through Keith and so many others like him I have learned to love and be loved unconditionally...these special ones hold a very special place in my heart!
1 comment:
thank you for all your kindness - you were one of many people that were touched by his spirit - and I'm so thankful he was a recipient of your love....
Fred
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