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In Memory of Chad

Jun 02, 2009

Elim’s staff and student body mourned the loss of two treasured students in past months. Below is a tribute written for Chad by his classroom teacher:

The mission statement of Elim states that we will strive to equip our students to reach their God given potential. At times, this seems like a daunting task that involves a lot of prayer, high expectations, and tons of love. However, students like Chad make this “work” easy.

In the four years that Chad was in my classroom, his classroom assistants and I saw Chad achieve many new things. He used his AAC device to tell us many important things like his favorite rock song… Jon Bon Jovi’s, “It’s My Life,” or his favorite football team… the Chicago Bears! His one on one assistant would help him take his turn during a Science experiment to see if a football sinks or floats (and then would laugh when he splashed her with water). We also watched him “run” across the gym with the help of a gait trainer and a physical therapist. Then we would laugh with him as he ran into a wall or better yet, the gym teacher! Yes, Chad achieved many amazing things while at Elim. God definitely blessed Chad’s life and I am confident that he reached the potential the God set for him before he was even born.

But my question is, did we teach Chad more than he taught us? Chad lived his life to the fullest and he blessed my life each day he entered my classroom. Sometimes the work Chad had to do at school was very hard for him, but he started every day with a huge smile on his face. When you saw that smile and heard his belly laugh, you were reminded to live each day with the joy of the Lord… no matter what your day brings.

Chad had a great sense of humor and all of his antics seemed to draw people in to him. He would drop things on the floor just so that you would pick it up and if you tripped over it, no one could help but join him in laughing even harder! I think that this is part of the reason that he developed such great friendships with the other students in the classroom. His closest friends would bend over backwards to help him, but wouldn’t hesitate to throw a koosh ball in his direction either!

Lastly, Chad’s love for God was evident. Many mornings during devotions, Chad would listen to the Bible lesson and then raise his hand to answer questions. Then he used his device to give his prayer requests that showed his love for his family. Most days, he would pray for his mom, dad, sister Krystal, and Papa and Sweetie (grandparents). Though occasionally he would thank God for his “cool Bears bedroom!”

Chad’s classmates, classroom assistants, and I will miss him so much! I don’t think that it will ever be easy to walk in the classroom and see the spot where Chad sat or explain this friends (again) that Chad isn’t coming back to school because he is in Heaven with Jesus. However, as I reflect on Chad’s life, I wonder if God gave me the opportunity to teach Chad so that I could let him teach me.