Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Community Partner Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Mason came to us fiercely loyal to Auburn football, his old middle school baseball team, his aunt and uncle, and his belief that his
safety came from his own control. The challenge of school and chores was a daily battle, often resulting in him threatening to run away or pounding his head into the dining room table. His favorite shirt belonged to his old middle school. He wore it as often as he could, even with the threat of his belly button peeping out of the bottom. His favorite phrase to use when being steered towards ownership and accountability was, “You don’t know me!”
As Mason’s time dragged on at Big Oak Ranch, he continued to fight for his own control and lived in the lie that no one could possibly understand him. On some days, we didn’t believe it was possible either. After about two years, the exhaustion of not letting God be in control of his future finally came crashing down. It’s easy to type out that sentence you just read. But in reality, the heart to hearts, the tears, the yelling, the pounding fists, and the phone call to inform Mason that it was foster care or us, was so much more than exhaustion. He was broken… but we know that what the enemy meant for evil, God turns to good. The same loyalty that kept Mason in a middle school shirt two sizes too small, slowly started to shift, and he slowly- very slowly- started to let go of the control. He started to put his trust in the fact that God had placed him at Big Oak Ranch and had so much in store for his future.
Almost five years later, here is what we know about our Mason. While he still isn’t the biggest fan of school, he works hard and understands that the grades he makes now affect his future plans to become the greatest chef the world has ever seen. Mason’s chore game is pretty on-point, with a little accountability at times. He volunteers at church, connecting with other teens in the area and inviting them to youth group. But most importantly, Mason went from a child who wanted only to survive here at Big Oak, to striving towards his future and understanding that he has the ability to break the cycle of his past by leaning into the love and plans that God has for him.
-Tyson & Abbie Simon
Houseparents at Big Oak Boys’ Ranch
