They have friends. They need parents.

I remember when I was a kid, growing up it seems like my mother was always just around the corner.  She had rules when I was little.  A lot of things I couldn't do or places I couldn't go if she didn't know what was there or if it was safe.  I remember thinking, "Wow, to be a boy, she keeps a tight leash on me.", but I come to understand she was just doing her job, being a parent.  She was always watching out for me.  Being a single mother perhaps she was a bit over protective but again I realize that was her job as a parent.  I notice this younger generation, they don't have that same nurturing spirit I guess.  You could pass through a neighborhood and see 3 and 4 year olds wandering about all by themselves.  Even in the house the kids sometimes tell the parents what to do.  When I was a kid I wasn't aloud to close my bedroom door because my mother wanted to see what was going on in there, what was I doing.  Young parents today don't seem to think that way.  A lot of kids are growing up with some of these computers I guess and electronic gadgets.  They're not learning to interact with each other.  The parents don't take time to teach their kids proper manners.  Again, when I was a kid it was "yes ma'am, yes sir" and you learned to stay in a kids place.  Now young kids just jump in your conversation as if they're on your level and no one says anything about it.  They come and go as they please, as if they're paying rent.  I know it seems like a good idea and we do want to be friends with our children growing up, but don't forget they don't need you always as a friend, they need you as a parent.  Learn how to stand firm with your decisions and guide them the right way.  That's my opinion.     

Someplace Special

My name is Jasper and I had a car crash in April 2009, which resulted in me being a Quadriplegic. After having gone through intensive care and Physical Therapy, I landed here at a facility called Special Tree. Actually, my daughters picked it out for me. They said "you'd really like this place". Everyone here is so friendly and it's clean and nice. After I got here I isolated myself- I wouldn't come out of my room for days on end. But this place is more like a huge family rather than just staff. They knew what I was going through and they were very patient with me. I want to focus on a group they have here called Therapeutic Recreation. They urged me time and time again to get out and mingle with the other residents, think of happy things to do, and think of different places to go. Later I discovered it's designed that way to get you back into society. This group (TR) has helped me tremendously. They taught me how to mix and mingle with other people. They even taught me how to laugh again. One thing I'll never forget is the patience and caring they have with me. I go bowling, I play card games and I play family games. Life right now- even though I'm a quad- can still be sweet. So I hope you never find yourself in a position like mine, but if you do, come to Special Tree and they will put your life back together.

My life as a quadriplegic

On April 28, 2009 my life came to a turning point.  It changed in an instant.  My Jeep fell off the down ramp and flipped 2 or 3 times and I broke my neck in two places and from then on my life will never be the same.  I went through Intensive Care, after that I went through Rehab for about a month and a half, then I was transferred to where I am now, a Neurocare Center specializing in Spinal Cord Injury.  In the beginning I felt alone.  I wouldn't come out of my room and participate in any activities.  I felt that my life was so limited because I couldn't move.  I felt like I could never be the man that I was so I let go of my relationship with my girlfriend.  I isolated a lot, but I never forgot what part God played in this.  I was warned over and over to change and stop doing the things that I was doing that were negative toward God.  I believe that in this injury God saved my life.  He is the supreme Father and he chastised me.  Slowly I began to change.  I started participating in some of the activities they offer.  I found that I could do new things.  The Lord put me exactly where I needed to be.  I take therapy sessions and I have a lot of professional people that really care.  If I had to give another quadriplegic any advice the first thing I would say is don't give up on God or yourself.  Take a new outlook on life.  Life is worth living even in the condition that you are in.  Hold your head up and be a man.  Your life is not over, it just took another turn and we have to learn to deal with it.  It's as simple as that.

Friendship

I have been blessed to have life long friends.  People I have met in the course of my life that I've bonded with that we just remained close friends.  I believe that friendship is a blessing.  I also believe that I am blessed to have more than one life long friend.  I have some friends that we've been together over 50 years.  It's a blessing to watch each others families grown up.  When something happens to me my friends are right there on the spot.  We look out for each other, our families and we give each other opinions and advice. If you think friendship is not so important, talk to someone who's never had one. I have noticed through the years some people don't understand the closeness we have, but what can I say, we're like family. And family checks on each other, talks to each other, and tells each other the truth about what they see. I've had friends of all ages, one friend I adopted as my second mother. We've been just that close. I even had one good friend, a co-worker in fact, that we kind of had a disagreement. I didn't curse him, he didn't curse me, but we didn't speak to each other for about a year. Then, one day, by chance, we ran into each other. The friendship started all over. See, if a friendship is true from the beginning, you may go through some bumps, but the friendship is still there. That's because God put it there. I also think a lot of my friendliness comes from my mom. My mother knew somebody everywhere- everywhere she went, she'd make a friend. Some people are so private they cut themselves off from being social. My mother used to say you can't live in this world by yourself.

Time

Time is a precious thing.  Most of us waste a lot of time doing things that make no sense.  Time should be used always in a positive manner.  The Lord did not waste time.  He rose early in the morning and started his business.  He was always seeking to do something meaningful.  Can you say that about yourself?  Do you waste your time doing childish things or do you spend your time helping others - family and non-family?  When was the last time you helped someone you didn't know? Time is a very fleeting thing.  It moves on and it will pass you by if you don't use it wisely.  In my position, being a quad, I try to be on the move whenever I can.  Even though it's a little exhausting I love to stay busy doing my therapy.  I look forward to them each day.  It lifts my spirit and makes me feel like I'm doing something positive for myself.  Take a look at yourself and decide whether or not you use time in a good manner.  What do you do to put time to good use? 

God Knows

So many of us are walking through this world blind.  We go from place to place, we take all kinds of chances with our lives.  But God loves us so much that He watches over us whether we believe it or not.  If we were living in a world without God you would quickly see the difference.  The Father knows what his children need.  He provides for those who have lost homes, He heals and mends broken bodies and hearts.  He always comes to us baring gifts.  For instance, I broke my neck in two places but still He allowed me to live, not only live, He allowed me to keep my right mind.  Some folks believe things just happen or they believe in coincidences.  I don't.  I believe that the Father's always watching over us.  Being a quadriplegic gives me time to think about my purpose in life and gives me time to recall a lot of my past experiences and I can see where if I had served the Lord some more I may not be in this situation.  It's written that He chastises those who He loves.  He took time and slowed me down so I could focus on Him and my life.  So if you are going through some turmoil in your life right now I suggest that you just do nothing or find a quite place and meditate on the Lord.