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recoveryisreal.org
isreal
recoveryisreal.org
Recovery
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EmailAt the risk of sounding like a doting grandmother, I will share with you something about a very special fifth grader who is giving The PIPER COMPASS for Living a great deal of her time.
Her name is Arielle and she is ten years old. What makes Ari so unique is not only that she has devoted countless hours to the typing of the resource manual, but her desire to see this manual turned out with the best formatting and preciseness to make it all that it is intended to be, is heart warming.
Ari asked to help out with the manual for months. I began to realize that this could be an important life lesson for her. I was not sure if she would stay with it, but one day decided to allow her to help me sort through pages of information. Hunter her nine year old brother also helped but as boys often do, he got bored and opted to watch videos. Ari and I continued working. Seeing her dedication and desire to assist me, I decided to give it a shot and allow her to type for the resource manual. My thinking was "What is the worst thing that could happen?" Ari’s work was impeccable and I was not only amazed at her skill in typing but the way she picked up on the instructions I gave to her for the formatting.
This manual is rewarding in and of itself before it has even hit the presses, though still challenging on various levels.
How many of us would have loved to be taken seriously when we were growing up and exploring who we were and would later become? It is very important for us not to make the same mistakes with the youth of our culture. And yet it is vital to allow them to be children at the same time. Balance is always the key factor and that promotes health no matter what the age.
One evening after Ari had spent two hours typing, we were proofing her work. While re-reading Arielle said “Nan what if you worded this sentence this way?”, and proceeded to give me input. I was not only impressed at the forethought that went into making the information better to understand; but I was delighted to see my granddaughter taking an interest in something that is so important to the mental health community, and I took her advise and changed it.
I am sure there will be an air of, why should this “child” be included in a mental health newsletter and why is she involved in PIPER at all?
I need to take a minute to address this. The majority of us in this community have been very wounded in our childhoods, and usually by those that were closest to us. My own abuse came at the hands of my immediate family and close circle of their friends. I have been one of the fortunate ones to be blessed with two children who did not have it easy by any stretch of the imagination but have grown into wonderful caring adults who love the Lord. They are raising their children in an environment that many of us used to dream of. My grandchildren are not yet aware of their sorted and painful heritage, but are learning about mental health issues from a healthy vantage point, rather then experiencing it’s devastating effects through trauma and pain. They are learning to give back for blessings they have received; and yet, they too have trials and pain in their own young lives, but thank God not devastating life damaging pain to date.
Arielle is an A student and she and her brother are both on the Peer Leadership Team at their school. She has also taken lead roles in plays at church, in school and at the YMCA in summer camp. She plays the Sax and sings with the voice of angel.
As you might have guessed Arielle is far advanced in her years. But at the end of the day Ari wants what we all want someone who loves us and can wrap their arms around us. She wants to be respected as a person and be treated fairly. She puts a great deal of herself into all she does and is thoughtful and has an awesome sense of humor, as does her brother Hunter. When given the choice to watch TV or read a book she opts to read.
So I ask you are you smarter then this fifth grader? Ari has many plans for her life when she grows up, but isn’t waiting till then to do something with her life. She is making a difference now even at the age of ten years old, with very little knowledge of the world and all its complexity. She makes every day count. I learn from all grandchildren, as I look for those treasures of truth that babes often are able to see. Now I have given you a glimpse into their insight.
Are you waiting for that break before you start to live? Have you decided that life has dealt you a raw deal and so you are going to get what you can from the system? Or are you at least as smart as this fifth grader? Can you see that everything starts with baby steps? Are you seeing your goals become a reality, or are you waiting for someone to make something happen in your life? Do you think the world owes you because you have been hurt and abused by so many people in your life? Well, one last thing about Ari, within this last year her parents divorced, and Ari took it pretty hard, and we still have heart to heart talks about getting past her pain. I am so pleased this fifth grader is not going to let the sadness over take her. And if you can at least do the same, you are at least as smart as this fifth grader.