Good Morning Pastor Steve

I know you all will be disappointed, but there are no pictures for this post. It is celebrating a huge milestone and an amazing man who has helped along the way.

I love my church. I say it a lot, but I also mean it very much. Zach and I are blessed to have a place where they accept him just the way he is. They try to the best of their ability to understand and include Zach as well as know his limitations and provide him the supervision and inclusion/separation that he needs and can handle. Zach loves going to church, especially once we switched to the morning service, years ago at this point. He loves hanging out with his helper Sam (and Timmy, James, or Victoria when Sam isn't able to be there). He loves music, doing arts and crafts, learning Bible verses (yep Bible verses. He actually knows a hand full and that warms this momma's heart to no end) and most of all watching Veggie Tales.

One of our pastors awhile back stepped in front of Zach on our way into the church building. He put out his hand expectantly for a handshake and wanted Zach to do the same. Of course he knows Zach and that he has "issues", but not necessarily what they were or what limitations he has. Zach wasn't sure what to do. This was something new to him. Social interaction of that nature just doesn't usually come naturally to him. So I helped him put out his hand, grab Pastor's hand, and shake. Then Pastor wanted him to look him in the eye. Oh my, you are killing me here Pastor (is what I was thinking). Eye contact for a child with autism is difficult. With some prompting from me and encouragement from Pastor, Zach made his best attempt. Then on in we dent. It probably took you longer to read the encounter than the time it actually took to transpire. Even though this was difficult for Zach, this touched my heart very deeply, and Zach's as well.

This became the new routine. Get out of the car, walk up to the building, shake Pastor's hand, find seats, go check in and get Zach to class. It is great because Zach is really excited about going to church. It also pulled him a little bit more out of his shell. He actually started wanting to shake other people's hands. He wants to interact with them, and this gives him a way to do it. This is also wonderful because he has had to learn to wait his turn when Pastor is talking to someone else. Not an easy thing to do for him, but he is learning; and Pastor will cut his conversation short or interrupt it if he sees Zach waiting. Pastor is genuinely glad to see him and interact with him.

I have to say this morning was extra special. Zach walked right up to Pastor and shook his hand. Pastor said "Good Morning" just like he always does. There was a brief pause. Zach in his very best effort looked him in the eye and replied "Good Morning Pastor Steve." Completely unprompted, unpracticed, unrehearsed just completely independent; and then went on his merry way on into the building as if nothing had happened. We were all stunned. We being my parents, myself, and Pastor Steve. The look of pride and excitement on Zach's face was priceless. Just as priceless though was the grown man so touched by that simple yet profound act of a child trying so hard to learn these unnatural social skills that he was moved to tears. It once again touched my heart very deeply, because he understood just as much as I did what an accomplishment that was.

Thank You Pastor Steve for taking the time and energy to work with Zach in such a little way that is having such a big impact on him, for genuinely caring about Zach, but most of all for truly realizing what an accomplishment, a milestone, that was made today. All because you took the time out to show Zach that he is important and he belongs.