Does the Lord ever speak to you through music? He has always used the lyrics of a song to
speak directly to my heart. My youngest
son, Noah, has found this to be true for himself as well. My husband likes music – if you consider Weird Al Yankovic a musician! My older son, Micah is moved by music too –
not so much of the Christian genre but of the Flo-Rida, Bruno Mars, Pittbull - bass droppin’ and booty poppin’
variety. There’s nothing wrong with a
little bass, right?
This past weekend we attended Winter Jam 2016, a concert of
ten Christian bands. Ten bucks at the
door gets you a night of entertainment – can’t beat it. Noah was very excited about this event but I
had to convince Micah to go. He seemed
to enjoy himself. He especially enjoyed
the Dip and Dots, funnel cake, French fries and thousands of dollars of other
concessions he conned me out of (remember the cheap $10 concert we were
attending?).
At the end of the night
Micah said to me, “You know how God speaks to Noah through Matthew West’s songs? I
think God spoke to me tonight through For
King and Country.” I asked him what
God said to him. He said, “I really
can’t explain it”. I just figured he was
playing my emotions so I would buy him a For
King and Country CD and necklace.
Trust me…this kid is good.
Over the course of this week God revealed to me, again
through music, that He had indeed spoken to Micah’s heart that night. This revelation brought me to my knees.
Micah announced at dinner about a month ago that his chorus
class was doing a spring musical – The
Music Man. Of course, I immediately
broke out my Broadway rendition of “Oh the Wells Fargo wagon is a comin’ down
the way. I wonder what it could
be!” (Crickets…and the look of “ok…momma
must be off her medication again) I LOVE
The Music Man! Micah told me that he
wanted to play the lispy brother – Winthrop.
I was a little surprised that he wanted to try out for a part instead of
fading into the background or not participating at all.
During the audition they have to recite a monologue from the
play and sing a part of a song of their choosing. I have always scoffed at stage moms. But there I was...in his bedroom…begging him
to let me help him practice. He
refused…I insisted. He told me “I’ve got
this!” I retorted “No you don’t! Do you know the words to monologue by
heart? Do you even know what song you
are going to sing?” I finally wore him
down so that he practiced the monologue.
He held on to the privacy of the song.
I pushed further, “How will you ever sing it in front of the panel of
judges and other people if you cannot even…(pause for dramatic effect – sniff
and wipe a tear)…sing it in front of your own mother?” He relented when I told
him I would turn my back to him.
He sighed a deep breath.
From behind me I heard the most amazing voice sing these
words:
Oh, to everyone who’s hit their limit
It’s not over yet
It’s not over ye-et
And even when you think you’re finished
It’s not over yet
It’s not over ye-et
Keep on fighting
Out of the dark
Into the light
It’s not over
Hope is rising
Never give in
Never give up
It’s not over
Guess who sings this song? For King and Country!!!
I gushed over him.
He pushed me away and told me that was exactly why he does not like
singing in front of me.
The magnitude of God’s message did not hit me right
away. But somewhere in the midst of the
constant replay of the song the Lord gently reminded me: It’s not over. Hope is rising. Never give up.
They are inside your head,
you got a voice that says
You
won’t get past this one
you
won’t win your freedom.
It’s like a constant war
and you want to settle that
score.
But
you’re bruised and beaten
and
you feel defeated.
You see, chorus was not even an option for Micah a year
ago – let alone a spring musical. Micah
was wasting his educational days away in a classroom of 5-10 students. He was not being challenged. Music, art, physical education were not an
option. Hell, there was no library or
cafeteria.
We were desperately trying to get him back into a main
stream classroom at his old school. He
was back there for a couple of classes a day but when a full day was discussed
the special education department and principal passive/aggressively pushed
back. They felt that it would be “best for Micah” if he transitioned when he
entered middle school. Sixth grade is
still considered elementary school in this district so that meant another year
of stagnation. We all felt defeated.
Micah has fought for years against the darkness of his
diagnosis. He has struggled with depression,
anger, isolation. We have prayed so many
prayers. Asking God to protect him from
the evil that prowled around him. Praying
that those around Micah would see the amazing child that we see. I beg God daily to give Micah a hope, a
future.
This summer the Lord provided an opportunity for us to
move to the county where my husband and I both work. We took that leap of faith, praying it would
be the right decision. Sixth grade is
considered middle school in our new county.
I met with the Director of Exceptional Student Services (aka Special
Education) who gave us the option of putting him in a regular classroom setting
or going back to alternative school. I
knew that Micah was more than capable.
Oh, game set match
It’s
time to put it in your past, oh
Feel the winter leavin’
It’s redemption
season
Long live the young at heart
Cheers
to a brand new start
We’re
revived and breathing
To
live a life of freedom!
This child went from a one classroom building of five to ten
children to a middle school – six periods, full classrooms, changing classes,
and lockers! Art, PE, chorus, and so
many other options! He has been
surrounded by an administration and teachers who believe in him, who are willing
to fight for him, who will not give up on him.
I had one teacher tell me she would be bloodied and bruised before she
would let him leave their school.
This is a good thing.
Because he still has days that remind him of his past - days of struggle,
poor decisions and heartache. Even the
day of the musical auditions I received a phone call that Micah was being
suspended from school. Fortunately, they still allowed him to audition. He was cast in the chorus – one of the
townspeople!
Life is a race we run
So
run til the race is won
Don’t
you ever give up
Oh
no, never give up
