It is Going to Be Good

It was a beautiful morning.  Blue skies, 60 degrees with a soft gentle breeze.  I had driven Jacob to his day program and we were in a parking space with windows and doors open, enjoying the wonderful day. 

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As vans pulled up with various riders, we watched guys and gals climb out and make their way into the building.  It was really quite nice.

A certain young lady got out with minimum assistance and started into the building.  She slowly walked by our open doors and that is when I heard her.  “I am not in the mood for this.  I am not in the mood for this. I am not in the mood for this.” 

Bless her, she was wearing a somber expression as she moved past us while mumbling to herself.  I couldn’t help but wonder what ‘this’ was.  An activity, a person, a meal? The staff member assisting her said something like, “remember what I told you, if you make up your mind to have a good day, you will. Tell yourself, it is going to be good.” 

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Just this week, I’ve watched Jacob exhibit the same train of thought even though he isn’t able to speak the words. 

Monday was awesome from the wake-up to waving goodbye to him at the center.  He was calm and happy (the same way he was the day we witnessed his classmate grumbling). I repeated several times to his daddy that Jacob had been in such a good mood.  Those mornings are a gift. Seriously! 

Then the next day he got up on his own without a wake-up visit.  Only problem was, he was wearing his grumpy pants. As if getting out of bed was a really, really bad idea.  He didn’t want me around and resisted when I started getting him dressed.  We were about halfway done and I had to walk away to give us both a break.  Nothing pleased him.  He became destructive. I could not put my finger on the problem.  The only thing that made sense to me was he was not in the mood for this…

Reminds me of our then 5 y/o granddaughter who was explaining something her parents had put into place –   “We have some laminated cards ‘cause I was fussing, fussing, fussing.”   I don’t know what she was fussing about but if laminated cards would help Jacob, I need to make some for him!

Don’t we all have days like that?  Beautiful sky, perfect temperature, birds are singing and we aren’t having it. I am not in the mood for this. Thankfully, giving him some space and time, he was ready to go and we made it without incident.

Great days are a gift.  Mediocre days are, too.  Every day with Jacob makes me grow, smile, wonder, trust, ask for help, see the positive, examine my own mood, give thanks, and seek direction. 

Setting my face to see God’s hand—it is going to be good.