Wonderful Nathan in Hollywood
Always when I tell stories about my sweet Nathan, moms say to me, “I have a Nathan!” Nathan is such an amazing blessing to me now, and many of you know him through his work to promote Dolphin Tale. But, as a little boy, Nate was always out of the box. When others walked on the sidewalk, he was on the grass, running around the bush, playing air fights with imaginary dragons, and living in a super man world in his mind. He wiggled, questioned, was loud and vibrant and fun and never liked academics but loved great stories and literature and heroes and discussion.
Many people wanted to label Nathan with consonants and vowels and or tell me to spank him more, but I knew in my heart he had the making of a great man and he needed love, patience and faith. I also knew that he was a lot like me–just made to be active and questioning and out of the box of norm. I can now see in my own life, that what has always felt like too much for me–my personality–was just what God needed me to be so that I would love speaking and writing and traveling all over the world.
And so with Nathan, I loved, encouraged, trained, confronted, believed in his dreams and prayed that God would help me support the person that God had designed him to be. I believed that maybe God did make Nathan to go into the world to be a “superman”–his favorite childhood character–one who would come to our world and save and help and redeem those who needed someone to save them.
All you sweet ones who are worried about your adhd, odd, ocd kids, just trust God, love a lot, give grace, and watch what God does–they are probably just artists or heroes in your midst and they must be a little bigger than life because of what God is going to call them to do–just like my wonderful Nathan–a true and faithful hero in my midst.
I will write more of his story tomorrow, but am off with Clay to Denver for surgery. (So please pray for us!)
But wanted you to see Nathan’s new book and have the opportunity to buy it. (You will be helping this starving artist who wants to be a light in Hollywood stay afloat a little longer! Please share it with your friends and let Nathan hear from you! Nathan said that he would send a free pdf to anyone who would blog about his book to help promote it. And I will give away 3 copies. To enter the giveaway, please go to Nathan’s blog and leave a comment and read all about him and pray for him! :)
When he moved to New York City a few years ago, he was confronted with what it would take to be a light in a very dark place. This is a perfect book of encouragement for anyone who wants to be encouraged to make the choice to follow God, to hold fast, to cultivate faith and to live to make a difference in the world. Also a great book for young men and appropriate for anyone. Devotionally written with short chapters and application. I am loving reading it, but of course he is after all my own personal hero!
The article below is about his new book. Here is his blog http://nathanjclarkson.wordpress.com/ where you can leave a comment and get a free download for blogging about it! Also, for the free entry to win a copy–leave a comment on my blog and promote it on fb and just let me know what you did. Thanks a gazillion–I try not to impose on my friends for me–but for my kids, I will impose on anyone! 
Have a blessed day!
October 8th, 2011
I was faced with a decision when I was 19. Let me explain. I had moved out and was living in the Big City (New York). I remember it was a cold and rainy night my family had left and there I was, little old (well actually very, very young) me. I had no idea what I was doing and I was all alone. But there on my first night alone on my own, as I was sitting on my Ikea bed in my small apartment bedroom in Harlem (Yes… I know the fam wasn’t thrilled, but I was poor) I heard a voice. It was God, He said “Chase me” and he suddenly ran out the door and into the pouring rain. I yelled after him that I was cold and alone and was kinda tired, but He just kept running.
So there I was, faced with a bigger decision than I could ever imagine. Chase after God or do what I feel like. Well I chased God, I chased him right into the pouring rain where I danced and sang with the Creator of the universe. I chased him through the next year of ups and downs friends and heart-break, hurts and joys. I chased him right out to Hollywood California, where today I finally am able to look back at all the chasing of God and say with complete honesty… It has made all the difference.
These are a collection of thoughts and the glimpses of Gods wisdom I had to chase down. All compiled into my very first book I would love for you to become a Wisdom Chaser too. Click to get your very own copy. Thank you so much.
Off to chase!
-Nathan
Oh, Sally, how wonderful that Nathan has written this book! I’m so excited to read it myself and pass it along to my nephews. Thank you for talking about Nathan as a little one. It encourages my responses to my own little “Nathanette” to be more filled with grace, patience, and mercy. I’m praying for Clay and the entire family today and through his recovery.
love in Jesus!
dorothy
Just hoppin by. It is such a blessing to hear about your son. It is aways amazing to see the Lord’s handiwork in the life of our children. Congrats! Proud mom.
As soon as I found out about it I shared it on my FB page and my homeschool group!
Oh Ms. Sally! You know how this speaks to me! I am so excited to hear more! You say you are very much like Nathan, but what if a mother is not like her child in that way, in fact opposite. What if medication is needed? What if it completely drains your joy away? What advice would you give us? I feel like I have no idea how to reach her heart, but I absolutely love her! I just don’t know how to show her.
Misty, how old is your daughter? I ask because my youngest son from the moment I could feel him move inside of me has been the one to make me question everything about parenting. However, now at almost 5 1/2 he’s finally coming into his own, meaning he’s understanding more and has shown me that he is maturing. I use to feel so guilty because there were many days where there wasn’t any joy, but now I look at him and see that God has a plan for him and he brings me a lot of joy.
Dear Sally,
Oh, yes, this was shared on FB immediately!
Thank you again for encouraging all mother’s of “Nathan’s!”
I have two little ladies that God has granted me the privilege of raising ~ alone. My oldest is only five, but resembles your Nathan in every way. I never thought about her being artisitc. I have struggled and dwelt with great frustration upon her inconsistencies with her peers. You have given me great hope now that her grandness, her energy, and her spirit are wildly and beautifully crafted by God for a purpose far beyond my comprehension.
My little one has been so different from her sister from the beginning, but at three years old now, she is showing that she has her own very unique perspective, and joy for life!
Neither of them appear to be fitting in the “box” or the mold that society and their peers seem to want them to fit in. But now, I am empowered to say, “they don’t have to! God gave them more, so they have more to share! He made them for a special purpose! And how beautiful it will be to someday see that purpose revealed!”
Thank you for giving me hope!
Now, will you just pray for the energy to keep up with my little super-heros!
I thank God for you, and the gift of your words! I will be praying for you and Clay tomorrow!
Peace and love to you,
Christina
Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Do you have a book about your journey with Nathan? I am raising two, perhaps three, Nathans and would love some godly guidance.
I am so excited to read Nathan’s book. As I read your description of Nathan, it made me think of my son. It is fun watching them grow up as we nuture them. I will be praying for you and Clay.
Hi Sally,
I do not have a FaceBook page but would love to be entered to win a copy. Such a beautiful thing to chase after God. The fact that God wants us to chase him is just amazing and one running game I do not mind participating in.
Tears. I read your words about Nathan and I see my Henry. Though Henry is only 7 (adhd too) I know that he will be used for great things. He has a natural leadership ability, kids love him, adults think he is funny and so smart, he comes up with great ideas. He is a ferocious reader, he plays with all he has, and wakes up the next day ready to do it all over again. Thank you for sharing your son and his story. I love the phrase Chase Me. Tears, I tell you, beautiful tears.
WHAT A BLESSING to read your notes on having a “Nathan” and then to read so many other comments on other people’s youngsters. I echo Misty’s quandary. I have a 7 year old adopted foster daughter with RAD, though I trust in a God Who makes us new creations and is in the business of healing. She is so very different from the rest of us, even just personality-wise, let alone all the baggage from being a meth-baby and going through her rough start in life. If feels like I can’t see the forest for the trees, because God gave her a bright and sunny personality, but she chooses the opposite of obedience every second of the day and that has had such a hard impact on our family. But yet to the world she is personable and delightful. It has been a rough, rough road – one I didn’t even want when God hit us over the head and said to go down this path. I know God has a higher purpose – even in our own spiritual relationship with Him. I know there is a spiritual battle raging, and I believe God has offered her an abundant life, but I am often paralyzed by fear and frustration – fear of the future and frustration over constant disobedience and rebellion towards those who love her most. I feel hopeless, like I have lost my ability to even remotely be a “good” mom anymore, and it’s an awful thing to not feel love for someone you ought to, and want to. So, anyway, I am grateful and encouraged to read these words this morning, and we look forward to reading Nathan’s book together as a family. Thank you for sharing!
I have a Nathan named Nathan also. Just yesterday, my friend told me that perhaps I am not strict enough with him (since he is the baby of the family)…hence he is more WILD. But my oldest son reassured me that isn’t so. He knew I tried to be consistent in teaching, reproofing, and correcting. I know that God gave my Nathan to me, so I can be more compassionate and understanding with other moms who has active kids like him.
Oh, this made me cry! In describing your Nathan you described my Elijah. I have been at my wit’s end lately trying to figure out how to parent this child. Your words really encouraged me!
Oh, Sally, I want a copy! How exciting is this for Nathan and for your family. I cannot imagine how proud you must be, as a writer, to have your son follow in your author footsteps. I can’t wait to read the book and share it with others. All the comments so far echo my own heart. Raising a child that has so many difficult needs wears the mama soul down. It’s so good to keep seeing you standing there on the other side seeing the victory playing out in your child’s life. I dream of those days, and pray my heart can last that long. Thank you, Sally, for everything you do.
Hi, My heart rejoices for you and Nathan. I have 3 Nathans who, despite being loved and nurtured and taught the word of God, are not doing so well into their twenties and thirties. I pray and trust that God will pull them back from the edge of the destructive precipice they are on. Thank you for the encouragement. I have posted Nathan’s link on FB. Doreen
I have a Nathan too! Although HER name is Tallulah! My precious girl is me, untethered by the heart-break of my childhood. She will run free, and I will give her the wings I can to see her fly high with God. Oh so precious. I shared this post with friends who also have a Nathan. Bless you and Nathan! I would love the chance to have his book. So precious. Dawn
This sounds like a great book. I have 3 boys and 1 daughter and it is great to see a young man grow up and accomplish such a task after many probably wondered about him as a child. Thanks for the opportunity to win the book. I also forwarded it to a friend to know about.
Sounds like a book I would love to pass on to my son!
Hi, Sally! I just wrote a bit about your post/giveaway and Nathan’s book at Homeschool News Network. I also posted the article on facebook at my Homeschool News Network page. Thank you for all you do! And I appreciate the opportunity to win a copy. God bless you, your family and ministry.