Your Story Matters
As we turn to a new year, in seasons of change and transition, remember your life has great purpose. There is a great big story unfolding.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would one day be a special needs mom, let alone an advocate and pastor, working and doing life alongside families living with disability. When I ask God, “break my heart for what breaks Yours,” (lyric from the Hosanna! Song) He changes my heart. He changes the motivations and directions through which my personal story unfolds.
How about you? Do you know that your story is God-purposed too?
On today’s blog, we’re sharing some encouragement and truth you can take with you into a power-packed life!
An Uncomfortable Family Update
This is not how I expected to title my first blog of 2022! Yet, alas, I’m online today for some “real talk” with friends who will “get it.”
The lives of families like mine (consumed by disability issues) can be messy and chronically strained. We are constantly learning how to experience God’s presence, purpose and peace while simultaneously living in the midst of challenges that pull us toward our wits end. We’re left, daily, with questions about how to endure the moment and the future.
Last week, we received news that threw our family into a whirlwind of learning a deeper trust in God—yet again.
On today’s blog, I’m sharing more about what’s happening in our family, what is next, how you can pray, and an opportunity for families like ours. I hope you’ll hop over there and check it out!
Pivotal Markers in My Faith History for 2021
I’m excited to reflect with you today on a year-end tradition I enjoy. Every December, I ask God to show me scriptures that defined, repositioned or grew my faith and relationships in that year.
A lot of personal history can be packed into certain scriptures. I would love to hear how you will remember hearing God speak to you in 2021 too.
Today’s blog offers an opportunity to reflect together!
Jesus Makes Much of Our Little at Christmas
Are you experiencing some underlying exhaustion while preparing to make joyful new Christmas memories?
Larry and I love the Christmas season! Yet we are coming into festivities with some battle fatigue and frayed nerves from parenting our daughter with disabilities. We have been short on respite for months while sleep, behavior, and health issues have also been challenging.
Such can be the life when parenting a child with complex health issues or developmental disabilities. Parents can find themselves dealing with a lot of trial-and-error, even feeling inadequate to help. Sometimes, we simply have very little to offer our big situations.
We need God to multiply our efforts and the fruit of those efforts the way he did for Jesus and his disciples!
Check out today’s blog and find out what God could multiply for your family this Christmas.
We pray you’ll be making seasonal family memories to last a lifetime. Merry Christmas, friends!
Mary and Elizabeth: One Special Mom Mentors Another
Jesus’ mother Mary and his aunt Elizabeth had a unique relationship and understanding between them. Both became moms of very special children.
As the mother or father of a unique child, you might relate to the way these two parents responded and related when a miracle was placed into their lives.
Enjoy this Advent season reflection on the blog this week as we worship and grow in faith together.
27 Gift Ideas for the Family Living with Disability
The holiday season is near. It is a time of year when stress, loneliness, and grief can weigh on caregivers and their families. Each family member — parent, grandparent, child with disabilities, sibling — is uniquely impacted by the disability issues involved.
Have you wondered what kinds of gifts would bless a family facing a caregiving scenario?
Let the list on today’s blog offer inspiration.
Worship Playlists for Caregiving Parents
I hear a lot of parents raising children with disabilities say that worship music is a go-to for them when it comes to soul care. That should be no surprise given that it’s easy to turn on a song and continue with the daily art of multi-tasking our self care or soul care while simultaneously caring for others.
We’ve been sharing playlists behind the scenes in the WRIM community lately. And it seemed like a fun and/or helpful opportunity to make this a more public effort and build our playlists together. After all, we understand each other and tend to know what will resonate and ease each other’s burdens.
In today’s blog, I’m starting us off with some personal playlists. But I hope you’ll chime in with comments about what ministers to your own soul!
Guest Post: Not Yet
Guest blogger, Dr. Rachelle Keng, shares in today’s post: “I struggle with chronic suffering. I live in circumstances that cannot be fixed by intellect, hard work, or service to the church. I am the mother of a disabled daughter. I am the grieving daughter who lost her mother to a slow death from metastatic cancer.”
Rachelle understands. It is not yet time for physical healing. It is not yet time for deliverance from the salty dagger. God is asking us to hold onto hope for the finale.
Read more as Rachelle shares the path we take when we don’t have answers and might even want to run away.
Your Purpose Includes the Church
It used to be that parents raising children with disabilities were reliant solely on medical professionals and school systems to guide them in navigating the “new normal” facing their child and family. Gradually, there have become specialty certifications for attorneys, financial planners and other professionals equipping them for the unique issues impacting our families.
Despite the great value of all these varied resources, there was much less attention given to the personal and spiritual care of special needs parents and caregivers. Thankfully, that has been changing a lot in more recent years.
Read today’s blog to learn how our families and the church can fight injustices and grow richer communities together.
The Power of Love: A Caregiver’s Anchor Point
Have you wondered who you were meant to be or what your purpose is? Maybe you have felt disabled by disability.
Don’t let society shame you because you’re not producing something that looks like what others are doing.
You are caring for a complex family.
Nothing you do is insignificant.
Your circumstances and life experiences are shaping and influencing you. Those things may consume you, but they don’t define you.
Join us on the blog today to learn more about where your greatest strength and encouragement come from.
