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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Teddy Bear for keeps

A while back I heard that the teddy bear was named after Theodore Roosevelt. I guess he went hunting and when he saw some cubs he made sure they were not killed. 

We all can think back in our childhood and remember having a teddy bear or a stuffed animal that represented comfort or security. 

I want to share a special story of a little guy at the group home in Guatemala. Lester is your typical trouble maker. He's about 6 years old and his teacher was going crazy having him in class. One day he was picking up the pears that had fallen on the floor in the backyard (there were about 3-4 pear trees in the back). I found out that it was his punishment because at school he hit a classmate and took his treat. Everyday you can hear the nannies yelling out Lester's name whether it was because he was doing something wrong or participating in something he shouldn't be. He would do things on purpose to get the attention. It was like he loved having his name being called or even chased after. 



I don't know much about him other than he has 3 other siblings in the group home and his parents could no longer keep them because of the poverty they were living in. 

During dinner one day I asked Lester if he could help me by putting some dishes in the sink. That's when I saw how his eyes lit up as he put away the dishes. He felt special that he was considered. 

The next morning I mentioned it to the nannies and suggested how by changing the tone and letting him know how special he was it would change his attitude. The psychologist also had mentioned about changing their technique on how to talk to him. This kid did a full 180 after a day of giving him a different type of attention that included a discipline with love and affection. 

The rest of the time there I made sure to give him a little extra attention and it was so special to see his change. What a little  love can do to a little kids heart.

In the middle of my stay he came into my room and handed me his teddy bear. He said that it was so I would not sleep alone. Here's this kid whose parents have abandoned him and he was thinking of me. I hugged that teddy bear close to my heart every night. 

My last day at the group home he went upstairs to my room to watch me pack. We talked, laughed, and listened to music as he looked through the pictures I had taken. When I finished packing, I handed him the teddy bear and thanked him for letting me borrow it. The look on his face was priceless!!! He looked so insulted and said that he had given it to me. I got a knot in my throat. The little that he had, he was giving it to me

This teddy bear brings me so much comfort at night when I am missing the kids in Guatemala. 

I pray to God everyday asking to already take me there, to help me in my sales. I keep Him telling me to be patient, that He is in front of me leading the way. He will take me there, I just need to be still and know that He is The almighty God.