Oh, there’s so much I’d like to say to you.
If you happen to be stopping over from Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today devotional, I’m so glad you did. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a wonderful group of ladies, and I’m so blessed to know them. There’s so much that I’d like to share with you, especially if you are the loved one of a special needs child.
I’d like to tell you that being a special needs parent is easy—but if you are the mother or father of a such a child, you know that it’s not. More than anything, I’d wish I could give you a hug and tell you that God is very able to help you and your sweet child.
Not only is He able, but He desires to surround you with His strength, patience and love. He’s proven that love by giving us an inheritance of promises that we can count on to make it through the hard days.
Better still, God sent the very best advocate we could ever have for our child! This advocate is one that we don’t have to seek out. We won’t need to place a second (or third) mortgage on our house to afford His services. He knows everything about our child: their innermost thoughts, the words they say (or cannot say), and the structure of every cell in their body.
This advocate hears them when they cry and whispers comforts to them on long, restless nights. He is the voice that they do not have. The Peace that they seek. The arms that never tire, even when ours, as parents, do. He sits at the right hand of Almighty God and has His Father’s ear. He knows that we will encounter trials and hardships, but He has already overcome them, promising rest, guidance and wisdom when we need it.
Our Advocate—Jesus—longs to help you. I know, because He helped me, and He helped my son.
He was there when I’d had enough. He listened when I felt lost and alone in a crazy, messed up world with a child I didn’t know how to communicate with. When I would have given up, He promised a bettter day for my son … and for me.
I am convinced that God’s ears quicken to the sound of a troubled child’s cry. I know that He listens to every prayer that rises from the lips of a mother. I know that He is for us.
This is what I want to tell you: Our God,—and Jesus, our Advocate—are standing by. I want you to know that God will honor every promise, and I mean every promise, that Scripture gives to His children.
I want you to know that you can have joy again, overflowing, spilling out, and never running dry… if you will surrender your cares to Him. It won’t happen in a day, but trust me, it will happen.
The truth is that we are blessed to be the loved one of a special needs child. Blessed to experience the beauty of that love.
Yes, that what I wanted to tell you.
Thanks for stopping by! May God bless you today!
Kelly Langston
My daughter doesn’t have autism..she is bipolar. We have faced a very long and difficult journey with her. Thank you so much for this devotional today. I have been struggling with not knowing how to see past the loss that has surrounded our lives because of our circumstances. I have prayed and asked God to help me things differently and not just as loss. Then your devotional from Proverbs 31 was in my mailbox this morning. Thank you.
I think we all need to remind ourselves to keep our focus on God and not our circumstances. I know I do! Whenever I feel stressed out, it tells me I need to return to His care. I have a bipolar loved one, too, and I’ve seen how hard that journey can be. Hang in there… Blessings, Kelly
It is very beautiful story. I like it very much. However, I would not call people “Broken” but rather “Very special people” as they are. They are very special to God why not to us?
The light.
I really believe that God has a very special heart full of love for kids with special needs. I do thing they are special to us. Alec shares so much with everyone he meets. I could only wish to be as gentle-hearted and kind as my son. I know that God uses Him is great ways, and I’m so proud of how far he has come.
As a mom to a child with aspergers, adhd, odd, and also to a child with down syndrome, your devotion in my in-box this morning was such a blessing to me! Thank you so very much. While we have gotten used to our “normal”, there are some days that are just so difficult I just want to crawl back under the covers and stay there. The end of the school year is always one such difficult time :). Thank you for reminding me that I also am broken, that my children are precious in His sight, that with Him all things are possible (even school), that I do have an advocate available to me 24/7, and that I am immeasurably blessed.
I am right there with you in your “end of the school year” struggles. Alec starts middle school next year.
Kelly,
I was so touched by your post this morning! For the past 19 years, I have been blessed beyond measure to share my life with my precious son, who happens to have autism. The early years were very difficult, but through it all, I clung to Jeremiah 29:11. The Lord has unfolded that promise in a beautiful way in my son’s life! He is an honors student at our community college and works part-time as a tutor. Next year he will leave home to continue his education. He wants to be a writer. Although he doesn’t have any close friends, he is a friend to everyone.
When I think back to when we were unsure he would ever talk, the years of meltdowns, and so many times, crying out to God, late into the night, praying for teachers to understand, I am humbled at how the Lord has worked all things together for good, and incredibly grateful for the experience of raising this very special child. He has taught me to see beauty in places I never would have on my own.
I hope that our story can give hope to families who aren’t as far along in their journey of raising a child with autism. I believe that the Lord is very close to these precious children, and it is such a privilege to be loved by them!
Beautifully and eloquently written devotion, Kelly. I was captivated.
Thanks, Colleen.
This is the first I have a read one of your blogs. I didn’t know it had anything to with subject of Autism. I was caught off guard as I read this morning. Tears are still streaming down my face. It was exactly what I needed today. My son is a child with severe autism. I have been feeling discouraged lately and wondering why God would do this to a child. As usual God gives me what I need and today that was reading our blog.
Bless you for sharing!
So glad you commented. The story isn’t over yet for your sweet son. I do believe that God speaks to autistic children on a deeply personal level, and I know that God will strengthen you. You have been called to a very special role, being the mother of your boy. I hope you do have some support to help you when you are discouraged. I have a group of autism moms who support each other. We all need support. I pray that God surrounds you and your son with peace.
Kelly, thanks so much for sharing your lovely post at Prov. 31 Ministries. It was beautiful.
I am very conflicted over the idea that disabilities would equal brokenness. My own daughter has Rett syndrome, a disorder under the umbrella of autism that is accompanied by severe physical disabilities as well. Her body is badly broken, but her maturity of spirit at age 16 far outshines my own 30+ years as a Christian. Each time she demonstrates deep Christlike character, I have to question which of us struggles more with being broken? It would seem that I do.
Yet the Old Testament is very clear about God’s requirement for perfection. Sacrifices could have no blemish…no animals with defects or injury. Leviticus details how the priests of the tribe of Levi who were allowed to serve were those without disability. The Lord generously provided for individuals with disabilities born into the family of Levi and was gentle in not burdening them with duty. Perhaps through His loving care of broken individuals, we can get a better understanding of His perspective on disability.
Since my pregnancy with her, I have prayed through Psalm 139 over and with my daughter. We both know she was created specifically as she is with God’s grand purpose in mind. Would He design something broken on purpose? His purpose is BIGGER than her brokenness.
Something important I took from your post today is that we are ALL broken…and His purose is BIGGER and more perfect than the brokenness in us all.
Thanks, Rose-Marie. What I was trying to say is that we are all broken. I know that I am. You are right about these precious kids having a great purpose. God can and does do mighty things through our kids. I am amazed at what my own son has taught me. Alec brings me more joy that I ever could have dreamt to find.
Kelly, I just wanted to tell you that your devotion on Proverbs 31 titled “Broken” was so beautiful and greatly touched me. I am the proud parent of two teens, one of whom was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes before he turned two. His care is nowhere near as challenging as what you face with autism, but I still so appreciated your Christian mother’s insights!
Being a mom is always challenging…but I try to remember to laugh a little every day! Thanks for your comment.
Hey Kelly! I just found your blog too. I am a consultant with a company called Just Jewelry and we have a brand new bracelet that helps fund autism research. It is ADORABLE! The cost is $18 plus tax and 10% of that goes to autism research. To see this new bracelet you can visit my website http://www.itsjustjewelry.com/KCampbell. My email is kristicampbell40@yahoo.com. This bracelet is special to my heart as I have a child with mild autism so I am VERY proud that JJ has this new product available!
You should get the word out now that Autism Awareness Month is just around the corner!
I enjoyed your devotional with P31 ministries. God’s light shines through the brokenness. I was thinking the other day before I read your devotion that my dyslesic son is not broken and he does not need to be fixed. With dyslexia there may be many other issues that combined with the dyskexia that makes the child interesting. I am saying “does not need to be fixed” in a way that I have accepted his condition. I acknowledge the condition by saying he does not “need to fixed” I also accept the condition.
Years ago, I did think that my son could be fixed with the right reading programs, special remediation school, etc. I have only learned during the last two years that such is not the answer as there is no cure for dyslexia but various reading programs, etc. that can help a student make academic gains.
I still do not see him as broken or as one who need to be fixed. I have to be careful saying that as I do not want people to misunderstand me. He will never be that boy who aces state or national academic exams. It will take him time to write an essay. His executive functioning issue can be problematic for him. There was always something special about him but at times frustrating when he was younger. That frustrating part was a strong will and a fearless attitude. That now serves him well during his older years.
I worked in education. Teachers always pointed to the fact that parents of kids with disabilities need to grieve for the kids as they will never become the “”child of their dreams….to grieve for the child that will not be like the other kids”. This is well intentioned and correct but can be misused in education as it is a the grieving part is a process. For those of us with kids with disabilities, that may be a short grieving process or a long one. It does involve some form of grief.
I have grieved that child that I wanted him be. I learned to except him as the total package. I am blessed that I learned that early enough as God revealed me him, the family, others and me his true strengths.
Once I fully accepted all of who my son is– I saw his strengths and the glory of God in him. God has a vision for him.
What a great reminder for who our true Advocate is. I so needed to hear this today and plan to participate in the study. 🙂
I am thinking about doing this study. I am raising two adopted daughters with fetal alcohol syndrome which is permanent brain damage and comes with hidden and obvious disabilities. I am wondering if the book is on autism do you think the principles still apply for any special needs?