Editor’s note: The following is written by Cordova teacher Jared Aaron and was originally posted to his Facebook page on Monday.
“Here comes Gabe!” are words you will hear often in the halls of Cordova High School. The well-worn power chair that gives Gabe the freedom to move around our small town has never been treated gently. It’s quirky like Dad’s old truck, funny noises and all. Gabe is, after all, 100% teenage boy. He has places to be, and if that includes crossing a mud puddle or a railroad track, then so be it.
Gabe is one of my students, a fantastic young man who keeps us all laughing in spite of some tough circumstances in his life. Here at the school, we’ve replaced wheel bearings on his old chair, which we’ve become pretty good at doing! We’ve also attempted to work on electrical issues at times, mostly to little avail, so that he wouldn’t have to wait for a service tech to work his chair into a busy schedule.
The last time the old red power chair went down was two weeks ago. The service tech tried his best, but it would need to be taken into the shop for repairs. Parts are a little scarce, so we’ve been seeing Gabe wheeling himself around the school by hand, with some close friends lending a helping hand at times. The old red chair is due to be in sometime this week.
Now, let me tell you how God works. Back in November, another teacher told me he was working on a scheme to get Gabe a new chair, but not just any chair. He tilted his monitor to show me this tank of a wheelchair. Olive Green with an American Flag and the word “AXIS” emblazoned on the front. It is a dream machine for a kid like Gabe. This teacher would, I’m sure, like to remain anonymous, so we’ll keep it that way.
The teacher set about asking churches and individuals to donate to the cause. He enlisted the help of anyone who would listen. Many helped. Many didn’t. I’ve learned this about God, though: He is going to do what He is going to do, whether we decide to help or not. Within a couple of months he was halfway to raising the funds he needed. The same day Gabe’s chair went down, if memory serves, I heard that a couple of churches had agreed to pick up the rest of the tab. These chairs are not cheap, but God isn’t worried about dollars, and He sent His people to make sure that the good teacher had all that he needed.
The chair came on Saturday, two weeks early… (GOD). It was stashed in the Family and Consumer Science kitchen. Gabe was surprised with this tank of a chair on the morning of Monday, February 12. For the video, check out the Cordova High School Facebook page. Have a tissue handy. He told me that he can now go fishing without getting stuck!
Now everybody will be saying it, especially the fish at the Cordova pond, “Here comes Gabe!”
