The 2nd in a 5 part series from a South Lake momma...
- Read Part 1: Click here.
I’m just a mom. A selfish, overwhelmed, short-tempered person who God chose to become a mom. I didn’t actually realize I struggled with any of this until after I had my first child. God has a sense of humor. Sanctification is what I like to term it- where God uses something to shed light on your strongholds, and then expects you to repent and put it behind you. In a nutshell that’s what the Lord did for me the day I birthed Lucas Presley.
Luke’s life, although very precious, has been the very thing that has brought me to my knees daily. I’ve never cried so much, screamed so loud, been so heartbroken, and laughed so hard. That’s a lot of emotions to feel in just one day. I often wondered why God thought I was equipped to have a child with Autism. And of course when you verbalize that thought, you always hear the next phrase “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” That phrase, although so very true, makes me turn my head. It’s not like God instantly equips you. If He did that, we wouldn’t have a reason to need Him daily.
Parenting as a whole is hard enough. Throw in parenting a special needs child and life just got REAL! No matter what the special need is with your child, it’s not easy. From the day you find out you are pregnant you start dreaming of this unborn child’s future. It’s filled with laughter, smiles, milestones, first dates, marriages, and maybe one day, grandchildren. When you hear the news that your child has challenges that may take away the dreams you so intricately planned out… your whole world crumbles. If you’re like me, you’ll mourn the thought of your child never having friends. I think that was the hardest one for me to get past. I can handle the thought of my child possibly not getting married or having children, but the thought of my boy not having friends just ripped my heart out of my chest.
But I’m here today to tell you God is bigger then this. He knows your child better then you. He knows their future inside and out. All God asks is that we choose to walk this journey with Him. Not in front or behind Him, but right next to Him. When you do, He will use your extraordinary child to change you in ways you could never imagine. Be patient with God, wait on Him to show you your next step. He won’t disappoint you.
<3 Kerilyn
Many parents of special needs children understand this story all too well! Feelings of isolation and loneliness are a commonplace, and it’s hard to relate to others who have “normal” children. This is where Real Life Christian Church steps in! Real Life offers classes specially designed for special needs children on Sunday mornings at both 9:30 a.m. (pre-k through 2nd grade) and 11:15 a.m. (3rd grade and up) service times. These classes focus on meeting children’s behavioral, sensory, social, verbal and physical needs. Also available for parents is a table at Family Night every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (with Lil’ Life Groups for children). This table is meant to facilitate community among parents with similar struggles, as they raise children with special needs. If you or someone you know has a special needs child, and desires community, love and acceptance, please join us! Contact me at kwomack@getreallife.com if you have any questions!
