Christina Block Photography

Meet Tyler

Yesterday was one of those days where I felt a little overwhelmed.

I have always been open & honest with people about life as a single mama.

Let me say that I don’t complain or moan about it a lot because simply, I feel blessed.

I feel the God will not put us through anything we cannot handle.

But yeah. It’s A LOT at times.

On top of owning a photography business which is enough on it’s own, I am responsible for our household…meal cooking,

cleaning, laundry {grrr}, errands, paying bills, mowing & maintaining the lawn, grocery shopping, dishes, all the busy work; but many

days I leave things on the back burner to spend time with Asher.

Thats more important to me than a clean house.

The CRAP will always be here.

He won’t.

Needless to say, yesterday I was heavy hearted.

I sat at my kitchen table & prayed.

Had a pow wow with God.

Fast forward a few hours…

Asher has been really wanting to climb some trees.

The only huge tree that came to mind was the Treaty Oak in Downtown Jacksonville.

I decided to take him down there to check it out.

We walk up & there are NO CLIMBING signs everywhere.

So we broke the law.

{horrible, I know}

I didn’t let him climb all over the tree, but just some of the lower limbs…I mean, what could that really hurt?

The boy loves nature .

I could see there were several people sitting under the huge tree…

I just figured some people were enjoying the shade & cool breeze.

{as we were…it was a beautiful evening indeed}

As Asher was playing, this kid came over and sat on a tree branch close to us.

I had a feeling like the boy just wanted company or someone to talk to.

And I will strike up a conversation with anyone…

We started small talking.

He was telling me that he used to climb huge trees all the time.

That he was a good tree climber.

{I told him that was way cool}

And I just had a feeling come over me.

I thought…there’s something different about this kid.

Like somehow I already knew his story in the back of my mind.

I said to him…”What school do you go to?”…he told me, “I am not in school”.

So I asked him, “Do you live in Jacksonville?”

And he said…”Well, it’s kinda bad, this is where I live…{as his arms pointed all around}, I’m homeless.”

I had my sunglasses on {as always} and tears just formed in my eyes.

{I felt the weight of his “story” in that instant}

He continued to tell me that his sister & Mom {who were over on the other side} were all homeless.

I didn’t want to ask much.

I didn’t want to make him feel worse than he probably already felt.

But we continued to talk.

He was 14.

His sister was 13.

They became homeless after his Mom’s mother kicked them out from living with her.

{he told me she {the grandma} had health issues}

But I thought for a moment…how could you kick out your own blood?

I mean…how could you kick out your 13 & 14 year old grandchildren to live on the streets.

{I mean, maybe the adult…{if something bad was happening} but the kids??}

I asked if they had enough food & drinks…he assured me that they did.

I asked if they needed anything…if there was anything I could get them.

He said that they were ok & didn’t need anything.

We proceeded to talk…

He told me that at night they go to a shelter downtown that provides a sleeping place for them.

{everything flashed through my mind…like should I give him some money…should I go try & talk to the Mom…}

I have never been homeless.

So I wasn’t sure if that would be rude or strange to rub my nose in their business.

Asher continued to play on the trees…

Tyler {the 14 year old boy} whom was wearing his school gym clothes uniform walked away…

He went back over with his Mom & sister…

it was around dusk at this point.

They gathered their bags of stuff & started walking.

I am positive they were probably heading to the shelter for the night.

Asher & I left…got into the car.

And I turned to Asher and said, “you know that boy mama was talking to?”

The boy was homeless.

It reminded Asher about the nights we pray for the homeless people.

{Asher calls them…”the people that live on the highway”}

You see…Asher has it so so good.

So it has always been important to me explaining how real life for many people really is.

I want him to have empathy & concern for people.

I want him to know how good he has it.

I want him to be THANKFUL.

I want him to share the love of God to people.

I want him to be different.

I want people to look at Asher & know theres immense love in his heart.

For me, that’s important.

God put it on my heart to blog about this…

Just earlier that day I was down & out because of all the “stuff” I had to deal with.

About all the laundry I had to do.

About the house I needed to clean.

About the meals I had to cook.

About the piles of work I needed to get done.

About the errands I needed to run.

About the lawn I had to mow.

About the 8 million “things” floating around in my brain.

I sit here this morning thinking to myself.

Christina…you have no room to complain.

Instead, I should be grateful for this house I have to clean…because that means we are living.

That I should be grateful for the dishes I have to wash…because that means we are eating.

That I should be grateful for the laundry I have to do…because that means we have clothes on our backs.

That I should be grateful for it ALL.

As I write this blog…the tears are coming down again…

My heart is heavy.

This evening Asher & I are going back to the park again…

I am bringing with me a little care package & hoping the family will be there again.

I am going to put myself on a limb and try to talk with his Mom.

See if theres anything I can do to help.

Because I want to help.

As I conclude this blog…

There are a few things I wanted the readers to get out of this…

1- Be thankful.

{there are countless people in the world that are living in horrible situations}

2- Get out of your comfort zone.

{pick a charity or cause that is near & dear to YOUR heart & help out}

3- Be the CHANGE in the WORLD you wish to see.

{it starts with ONE}

Until next time…

xo

Christina