I know it sounds silly to say that Veggie tales changed our lives, but it truly has! As some of you know from previous posts, my oldest son has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from all that he has been through. Since he was born he has always had a difficult time listening to music, especially in the car. In a previous post from a couple of weeks ago I explained why.
When I was pregnant with my oldest son I would sit and listen to music to try and calm me down, but when I would get "caught" by Danny (My ex-husband), I would be verbally and physically reprimanded for listening to music that Danny didn't approve of. All throughout my pregnancy with my oldest son I was neglected, unsupported, and totally alone. As I shared in my previous blog about music, I was not allowed to sing, and I was not allowed to listen to music in the car. I can only believe that this fear of music came from infancy for him.
To try and get my son to enjoy music, I tried playing fun children's music, Christmas music, and worship music. I tried forcing him to listen to "only one song" on the radio. But it always resulted in the same reaction. My son would scream "I hate music", cry, throw his body around, throw things, and inevitably he would curl up into a ball holding his legs and rocking back and fourth. I didn't know how to help him through it, but I knew that he needed to break through this barrier.
One day when we were at the thrift shop my little son found a veggie tales CD, that just happened to be in perfect condition, and he wanted to get it. In my head I was thinking, oh boy this is about to be a huge let down for everyone... but since it was only a dollar I went ahead and bought it anyway. When we got to the car, my little one said "Lets listen to veggie tales" and my oldest didn't have any complaints, so I popped it in the CD player! Not once did I hear any complaints from my oldest, no screaming or crying, nothing! Then he started to actually enjoy it, and try to sing along to the ones he knew from watching the movies!! Victory!!
I could not believe it! Did that really just happen? For 5 years we dealt with no music, and now in one instance everything has changed? From then on for about a month it was veggie tales and nothing else. Of course the CD is maybe 20 minutes long, so we all memorized the songs very quickly (Although I knew them from when I was a kid). Then slowly I began to start playing the radio for a little bit after veggietales had been on, and voila he was done with the craziness!
I think it is no coincidence that it was songs that are centered around a Christian message, and I have no qualms with the fact that they are silly songs either! That's just what he needed, and God knew it! Now we are able to listen to the radio and rock out, and I can actually sing along with it without being a hindrance for my beautiful son! What's really cool is that my sons have learned the words to many of the worship songs that are on the radio, and will randomly sing them when they are playing! That alone is worth praising God for! But I know that Veggietales was another tool that God used to bring my oldest son one more step away from the chains of PTSD. I thank God every single time that we are in the car and I am able to play music and have him enjoy it! It has been so long since I have heard the words "I hate music" come from him, and I trust I never will again!
When I was pregnant with my oldest son I would sit and listen to music to try and calm me down, but when I would get "caught" by Danny (My ex-husband), I would be verbally and physically reprimanded for listening to music that Danny didn't approve of. All throughout my pregnancy with my oldest son I was neglected, unsupported, and totally alone. As I shared in my previous blog about music, I was not allowed to sing, and I was not allowed to listen to music in the car. I can only believe that this fear of music came from infancy for him.
To try and get my son to enjoy music, I tried playing fun children's music, Christmas music, and worship music. I tried forcing him to listen to "only one song" on the radio. But it always resulted in the same reaction. My son would scream "I hate music", cry, throw his body around, throw things, and inevitably he would curl up into a ball holding his legs and rocking back and fourth. I didn't know how to help him through it, but I knew that he needed to break through this barrier.
One day when we were at the thrift shop my little son found a veggie tales CD, that just happened to be in perfect condition, and he wanted to get it. In my head I was thinking, oh boy this is about to be a huge let down for everyone... but since it was only a dollar I went ahead and bought it anyway. When we got to the car, my little one said "Lets listen to veggie tales" and my oldest didn't have any complaints, so I popped it in the CD player! Not once did I hear any complaints from my oldest, no screaming or crying, nothing! Then he started to actually enjoy it, and try to sing along to the ones he knew from watching the movies!! Victory!!
I could not believe it! Did that really just happen? For 5 years we dealt with no music, and now in one instance everything has changed? From then on for about a month it was veggie tales and nothing else. Of course the CD is maybe 20 minutes long, so we all memorized the songs very quickly (Although I knew them from when I was a kid). Then slowly I began to start playing the radio for a little bit after veggietales had been on, and voila he was done with the craziness!
I think it is no coincidence that it was songs that are centered around a Christian message, and I have no qualms with the fact that they are silly songs either! That's just what he needed, and God knew it! Now we are able to listen to the radio and rock out, and I can actually sing along with it without being a hindrance for my beautiful son! What's really cool is that my sons have learned the words to many of the worship songs that are on the radio, and will randomly sing them when they are playing! That alone is worth praising God for! But I know that Veggietales was another tool that God used to bring my oldest son one more step away from the chains of PTSD. I thank God every single time that we are in the car and I am able to play music and have him enjoy it! It has been so long since I have heard the words "I hate music" come from him, and I trust I never will again!
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
Thank you father for the vistories that you give us, in the little and the big things! Lord I ask that you would give us the extra boost to trust you with ALL things that are in our lives. Help us to defeat the things that we battle each day by handing them over to you and allowing you to take it over! We know you take all that we go through and you use it for your glory! Father I pray that you would use this post to lift someone up today, that they may come to know you better because of my son's testimony! We praise you for all that you do for us, and we ask that you would take over father God! I love you Jesus, and I pray all of these things in your name. Amen.