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| Joshua holding the 76 ball and The Crew on graduation day |
The crippling
effects of Joshua’s arthritis had settled in, and he would celebrate his
nineteenth birthday in four months.
He and his
friends were looking forward to their first year of college in the fall, but
Joshua’s dreams continued to unravel. His friends saw this and decided to take
him on a surfing trip near Santa Barbara, California.
At first Joshua
said no to the invitation, for he hadn’t been able to surf in months. His
friends wouldn’t hear of it, though. They insisted they would help Joshua get
on his board so he could float and take in some sun. I was much relieved for
Joshua’s buddies, for my son had been depressed.
All packed and
ready to go, Joshua, with me, watched a car full of his friends pull into our
driveway. I hugged my son good-bye. Joshua left the house, using his cane to
ease the pain where ankylosing had fused one side of his pelvis.
Through the
window, I watched a handful of Joshua’s friends from high school, who were a
part of the bigger group known as “The Crew.” One boy jumped out of the front
seat, and another starting strapping Joshua’s surfboard onto the car. Someone
took his bag and stuffed it in the trunk. The boy that got out of the front
seat waved to my son. He hollered, “Shotgun, Josh.”
No one helped
Joshua as he eased into the seat, propping his cane next to him. A man wouldn’t
care for that kind of help, and they knew this.
I hugged myself
and sobbed for their display of friendship for one of their wounded.
Lord, God, please keep my son safe on the
water. I’m grateful for the Crew. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Reader Journal
~Your Mother Memories~
~Your Prayer of Praise~
~A Scripture of Encouragement~
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