I’ve loved to sing all of my life–it’s like breathing to me. So when I get to help lead worship on Sundays, I often get carried away…  One hand is usually raised high in the air, I bounce a little, walk and move, following wherever the Spirit leads.

Yesterday was no different.
But it was difficult.

Difficult because in the middle of this song Jacob walked in and I felt like I wanted to cry.
Jacob is 12 years old and as tall as his mother.
He’s had a rough go at life; when Jacob was six, he was in my Sunday School class. We were faced with many behavioural and learning challenges when he was with us. His parents participated in helping us work things out all along the way.

But Jacob had neurological issues that were affecting his life and learning. Then he started having seizures. A lot of seizures. And he was loud. And he hugged too hard.
But boy he loved to sing.
(Loud, of course.)

Jacob’s seizures were becoming dangerous, as he’d fall down often at home and risked seriously injuring himself. It wasn’t safe to take him in public for the same reason.
School was out of the question–Jacob couldn’t play outside at recess and his abilities were severely affected by the many drugs he was on.

Jacob never had a chance to ride a bike as his walking was becoming abrupt and staggered. He couldn’t participate in any sports; all the normal kid-centric activities were off limits to Jacob.

So, after years of struggling with medications that were depriving their son of his childhood because he was always asleep or too medicated, Jacob’s parents decided on radical brain surgery.

The procedure involved doctors cutting a square-shaped letter ‘C’ in Jacob’s scalp, ‘to separate the left and right side of his brain’, his mom said. It took a very long time and Jacob spent many, many days in the hospital.

However, his recovery was slow and miraculous. He came home sooner than expected. The doctors were amazed–they said it would take 6 weeks for him to walk as he’d be sitting around in a stupor for several weeks. They weren’t sure if he’d be able to speak or raise his hands.

But God…………..
God had other plans.

Jacob’s surgery was four weeks ago.  He is now walking and laughing and reading and talking. He actually has an appetite, he’s on less medication than before, and he can get himself dressed.
Oh, and he can sing.

Which is why this morning was so difficult.  In the middle of this song** Jacob walked in with his mom, sat down in the front row and proceeded to raise his hands high in the air. He looked up at the screen to follow along with the words and sang out loud and strong.

I couldn’t look at him without choking up, so I kept my eyes closed, peeking every once in a while at his mother and smiling through my tears.

When Worship was over, our Children’s Pastor invited all the kids on stage for an annnouncement.
Something about ice cream and kids.

When she finished, Jacob came right over to me, said, “Hi Jody!” and gave me a hug, a strong hug.

I couldn’t speak because I was overcome at the amazing goodness and power of God.
All I could think as he walked away was, “We need to get this boy a bike!”

**Healer