PWOC International Blog

Submitted by Judy Carlson

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.

For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18

The four of us decided to have a fast food getaway. My handicapped daughter Liz (22), my college son Kristian (19), my husband Tim, and I climbed into the car. “I brought my Precious Moments Bible Mom,” Liz said. I smiled. I always loved to see a book in her hand.

My mind wandered back to Lizzy’s elementary school days. Going into fourth grade she could not yet read or write. Her physical challenges, in both large and small motor skills, were keeping her mind and body exceedingly busy. I was unaware at the time what a supreme effort it was to simply hold a pencil firmly or to keep a book still in her hands, not to mention focusing on the vast quantity of shapes, sizes, squiggles, and dots that we call the written word.

What I did know was that by the fourth grade, my brain injured, sweet tempered, blue-eyed blond child still could not read. In those early school years I had a recurring dream of her opening a book and reading to me. As the years went by, this particular anguish had grown to a secret panic. To me, literacy had always been one of life’s greatest gifts. What can a person who is already so challenged in other ways do without the gift of reading? Once again I pleaded with her Maker.  “Oh Lord, please enable my Lizzy to learn to read.  I don’t ask for more than that now.”

Lizzy was a favorite with her special education teachers. She was very stable emotionally and I was often told she helped to calm other students with her sweet ways. Still, they held out less and less hope for her learning to read. My heart was heavy the day she entered fourth grade. I ushered Lizzy into her special-ed classroom and met her new teacher, Mrs. Goldstein. The attractive, dark haired woman had a shine in her eyes and a ready smile. It gave me extra courage to express my concerns.

After introductions I said, “Could I speak with you briefly?” Stepping outside of the classroom with my heart pounding, I quickly explained to the teacher my deep desire for Lizzy, ending with these words, “Mrs. Goldstein, without the ability to read, my daughter can never follow a recipe, understand road signs, look at a menu, enjoy a magazine, or protect herself from danger in many situations. Neither can she read just for pleasure or about things that interest her.” Tears formed in my eyes. She looked at me kindly, placed her hand on my arm, and said, “Mrs. Carlson, I have never yet failed to teach a student to read. I have developed a no-fail method that is simple, slow in progress at times, but very successful. Your daughter will learn to read this year, I promise you. I can’t predict her skill level but I can assure you she will acquire the skill.” Her voice was confidant and expression cheerful. My heart lurched. Was this an angel before me? Dare I believe and hope? I took Mrs. Goldstein’s hand and choked out a thank you, unable to say more. We went back into the room and I hugged and kissed Lizzy goodbye, feeling my daughter was in safe hands.

Lizzy’s voice brought me back to the present. “Mom,” she spoke in her soft way, her speech still a bit affected, “listen”. She opened her bible to the chosen passage she had underlined with a pink marker. ”The Lord… gracious to those… wait for Him. His mercies… new every morning. Great…his faithfull…ness.  He that keeps Israel…neither slumbers…sleeps.” Her hesitant voice, sometimes missing a word here or there, read on, beautiful to my ears. As usual my heart lurched. “Isn’t that good Mom?” she asked. “That is a very good passage Lizzy.” I looked with love and admiration at my daughter’s face. “Yes, it’s very good. I love to hear you read.” She smiled. ”I know Mom.”