God has a sense of humor

So today I was out for the better part of the day doing some Christmas shopping. On the way to the next store, while driving, I started thinking about all of the behaviors and progress we have endured so far with Noah, and suddenly my mind got lost in thought about it all. There I am, going down I-30, almost reliving one of Noah's worst breakdowns. I vividly recalled the screaming, the growling, the crying, the crazy talk, his kicking, hitting, head butting, throwing things etc., that particular one lasted over an hour. Sheesh! I wondered if I'd ever get to the place to where I could endure one of his meltdowns without getting cottonmouth, trembling, and feeling totally helpless. My stress level during those times is through the roof because, let's face it, I'm emotionally invested in the kid and there's no way I can just stop it. Then I started thinking about the progress and how far he's come. I wondered if he'd ever just stop lashing out so bad. If one day he'd settle in and embrace being a son, having parents, and being apart of a family without fighting it so hard. He's doing so good in so many other areas in his life, at this point, we're literally dumbfounded that he's still exploding like this. Then my mind drifted to the Lord and how faithful He's been in our walk with this special kid of ours. How He had enough grace to give me dreams about Noah before he came here. How the Lord told me His plans for Noah and how glorious his future would be. How God taught me to look at Noah as he is 'faith walking' because frankly, the mess we had before our eyes left little to the imagination as to what would become of him if he remained in the condition he was in, and it would take believing without seeing to encourage us in our walk with him. So again, I'm sitting in my car driving down the road thinking all of this when I hear a faint familiar song playing on the radio and had to turn it up. It was Livin' On a Prayer from Bon Jovi and suddenly, it was like God was singing it to me at that very moment, encouraging my heart with each lyric--

"Whoa, we're half way there
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear. Whoa, livin' on a prayer!"

And then this part

"We've gotta hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got!"

I mean when it clicked in my head what was going on, I was immediately encouraged and I turned it up and rocked out with joy in my heart. I'm sure the other drivers on the road were freaked out at or laughing, one. I know I would be. Lol! But anyhow, I do not think that song playing was a coincidence, at all. God loves me and He meant for me to hear that song at that very moment. Then when the song was over, I laughed and looked up to the sky like, "Mmhm, I see what you did ther, Lord." Lol! Sometimes I feel like a car running on empty dealing with these kids, and especially during times like that, but today God's love and sense of humor filled me up and renewed my faith in what we're doing here.  I'm never alone, He's always with me. Be it during the meltdowns when I feel alone and helpless, or in a car by myself going down I-30, He's always with me.

And He's with YOU, too! ;)