I am not forgotten

Jan. 16, 2011

Sometimes you hear a song and it gets stuck in your head. Often, these songs haunt us, other times they can lift us up to places we never thought we could reach. Just as important as the song itself, is the setting in which we hear it and those around us hearing the same message.

This weekend, our church played host to the Watoto Orphanage Children’s Choir from Uganda. The choir is made up of 22 orphan children and a handful of adults all of which put their hearts, souls and lives into the group. Annette and I have looked forward to hearing them ever since the show was announced. Even though it’s not the same orphanage that Annette visited in Uganda last summer, many of the stories are similar, the smiles on their faces are just as special and the love and appreciation runs through every ounce of their being.

Being an orphan is not by definition a special need. But most of these children lost their parents due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, or via wars or acts of violence throughout the country. Having to fight to find food, shelter, education or medical needs has stripped their childhood from them, unless a facility like Watoto (or New Hope) takes them in giving them a second chance.

It’s easy to think that everyone has given up on them, including God. It feels like the weight of the world has taken the spirit to live and thrive right out of them. As a special need parent, many have this feeling too. They think, “How could God do this to me? What did I do wrong? Where are you when I need you the most?” It reminds us of the Footprints in the Sand poem, which most all know, but still struggle to think about while in the midst of our daily battles.

We decided to take Nathan with us for the concert. We thought he’d enjoy seeing the kids, hearing the music and watching them dance. The last live performance we had taken him to was Sesame Street Live two years ago. We had great seats, in the second row, where the characters can come right up and hug you, shake hands and dance with you. This was a little too close, too loud and too scary for him to enjoy. Learning from that, we took him into the sanctuary, sat as close to our normal seats in the back as we could and waited for the show to begin.

The drums pounded out a rhythm, the kids dance in down the aisles, the singing started and Nathan’s heart started racing. His arms and legs were getting tense, thinking this is not the church service he’s used to seeing. I took him to the very back where we could sit by ourselves, a little farther from the action and knowing they weren’t coming to get him. He seemed to settle and enjoy the music, and enjoy watching the kids.

I had set his walker in the back when we went in and now it was setting right next to him. He looked at me and patted the walker, letting me know he wanted in. For his good communicating to me, I agreed. I put him in and he stood in his walker next to me in the chair.

One of the children shared their story of how hard his life was until invited to join Watoto. Now he is filled with hope, life, love and the confidence he can live to be whatever he wants. Through Watoto, he had been introduced to God, and how with God living within him, great things will happen. The music started and my new favorite song began.

If you want to jump straight to the song. It starts at 1:30.

The song is made up of some very simple lyrics, like so many kids church songs. It’s very repetitive and when sung with the energy and dancing that the Watoto choir brings, it is sure to make your heart sing as well. The chorus is “I am not forgotten, I am not forgotten, I am not forgotten, God knows my name.”

During the song, one of the Watoto adults running the sound board got up, checked something in the corner of the church and returned. Before he got back, he stopped to look at Nathan. The man looked into Nathan’s eyes who was still watching the kids on the stage. He knelt next to him, extended his hand, and Nathan reached out to grab it. He sang to Nathan only changing it to “You are not forgotten. God knows your name.”

He had to return to the board to finish the show, but afterwards he made sure to come up and introduce himself to Nathan and myself and ask if he could pray for Nathan. When he finished, he thanked me for letting him meet Nathan and went on his way meeting and talking with others.

The video above is of the Watoto choir, at a different performance, singing this song. To all special-need parents, please know that the same is true for you and your lives. Sometimes you hear a song and think it was sung about you. This song was sung to us, about us, and for us. May you hear the words and know it’s for you too.

You are not forgotten. God knows not only your name, but your struggles, trials and grief. If you are willing to put your faith, hope and trust in Him, what a glorious day it will be. His works may not be seen tomorrow or next week, but in His time God will show His plan, and what mighty time it will be.

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