1-800-HEAVEN THE KID

Can I make a statement that will possibly confuse you after you read this entire post, or maybe not? I had a lost boy’s childhood with adventures that most of you didn’t have. The majority of you reading this post had a real family life with a mother, father, brothers, sisters, and possibly even a dog or two. I can assure you that I had two dogs, but that is where our lives differ. My mother died when I was nearly turning five. My dad was already on his way to having a second family and wasn’t around much. Circumstances turned out terrible in that my father decided that I was better off in a boarding home 100 miles away from him, out of sight, out of mind. I was in that home until I was 14 years old. The other boys and girls in the house became my family. I love every one of them to this day. Two teachers tried to adopt me once in 1st grade and once in third grade. My dad refused.

I was an independent kid, always into something. After school, I would climb the mountain behind Franklin School, following the creek up to the Chauk Mine overlooking Santa Barbara’s East side. During the summer, I would be up early and go to the pier to fish. Everyone knew me on the pier because I would ask the guys if I could borrow hooks or if they had extra old fishing line I could tie together to reach the water. They never said no.

To keep busy, I would go out hunting wood to build the dream of having a pigeon flock. I finally had enough to make a coup, but I had no idea how to pull it off. I went down the dirt road where I lived to see John the Bird Man’s Coop. It took me nearly the whole summer to get it all framed up. I hunted down old door screens to use because I couldn’t find chicken wire. I couldn’t afford to buy birds, so I built a box to trap wild pigeons.

On and off, I would go to the boys’ club to play pool and to do woodworking. One summer, the boys’ club put together a week-long camp up in the mountains for the kids. It cost $5.00, so I couldn’t go. The shop manager asked if I was going, and I told him I'd be busy during the summer and couldn’t make it. He saw my tears and knew differently. He made a deal with me: I could pull nails out of the boards and put them in a big pile of wood outside the shop, near the parking lot. If I did, he would make sure I could go. I did, and he did as he promised. Oh, before I get to the point of this post, I have to tell you about the Pool table play. I was ten years old when, on a Friday night, there was a pool tournament. It was divided into age groups. I won my age group. News 3 was there to take pictures. They took one look at me and decided that a Little Rascals-looking kid with black curly hair, a hole in his pants, a shirt way too big for him, and shoes with flopping soles would raise some money for the club. I didn’t care, I just wanted my only trophy.

I shared some of the good things that I experienced, but none of the bad and heartbreaking things I experienced as a kid. I did end up at my father’s house, but it was horrible. I didn’t belong there, and as soon as I was out of high school, I volunteered for Vietnam.

The Lord has given us a beautiful promise, He said: “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU”. Also, “He is closer than a brother “. He said that “His promises are yes and Amen”. He said, “He will supply all our needs”. He said that no weapon formed against us will harm us.” He said that “He will supply all that we need to succeed in His calling “by His Grace.

What a wonderful, loving Father we have in God, a brother in Jesus that died for us, the Holy Spirit of Promise that was given to us at the cross. What more do we need?

I may never have experienced what most of you have, but because of salvation, we can experience everything that is perfection in our God. Because of Him, I know what family love, caring, and protection are all about. It is comforting to know that I am in my beloved.