I have long wrestled with why God gave me children with disabilities — as in plural. I’m the mother of 5 sons, three with special needs. Our special needs story began in 1999 when our third son was born with CHARGE Syndrome. I gave birth to our second child with CHARGE Syndrome in March 2008.

This journey has been fraught with the highest highs and lowest lows. Many times, my fear, anger and turmoil have been palpable. After trying to comprehend a God’s purposes, which are incomprehensible, I arrived at a peace that passes understanding. 

One fall day in 2011, I sat in the car watching my two oldest sons practice football. As I sat there in that moment of solitude, munching on chocolate chip cookies, I laid my accusations, questions and grief at the feet of Jesus. I asked God for some sort of direction regarding why some children are born “broken “ by worldly standards. Having eaten all of the cookies, only broken crumbles remained. I heard a quiet voice say:

“Kelley, I love you with an unwavering and everlasting love.
These children are uniquely made.”

I began to write “The Broken Ones,” more than a little stunned at the revelation taking shape in my mind and heart. God had just used a bag of cookies to reveal a profound truth in regards to people with disabilities. On the back of a JV football schedule, a story of honor, hope, and confirmation began to take shape. 

Here are the words that were given to me…

Dear friends, sharing creatively and being a walking partner with others who traverse this special needs life together are among the greatest privileges and joys of my parenting life. The journey is, in fact, extraordinary! 

ECCLESIASTES 7:13-14
Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

---