Week 6: Miracle of the Heart Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:31-35

This week's devotion from Miracles by Karen Kingsbury is based on Genesis 29:31-35.  Karen Kingsbury introduces us to a young lady whose life suddenly took a different turn, one that she wasn't expecting.  We learn how God still provided her the life she always dreamed of, just in a different way.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  Psalm 27:14

When I was younger I dreamt of being a mom.  I wanted children.  I didn't care how many.  Just please give me children.  I've always loved being around children, teaching them, learning from them and playing.  I knew I would be a mom one day.

Almost eleven years ago, my life changed and my dream came true...God blessed me with twin boys.  I was so elated and thrilled to not only be a mom but a mom of twin baby boys.  That first year was tough.  My "plan" didn't quite look like I thought it would.  It was a crazy sleepless year.  Don't get me wrong, I was still very excited to be a mom but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  After their first birthday, it started getting a little easier.  They were getting more independent.  My "plan" was looking more like I imagined it would.

What I didn't realize was that His "plan" for my life included having a special needs child.  Never once did I think my child would have autism.  I will never ever forget that day.  It happened almost 8 years ago.  "You're son has autism.  Enroll him in some occupational therapy and speech therapy as soon as you can."  Then we walked out the door not knowing what to expect next.  No one could tell me what to expect next either.  Not a doctor, a therapist, a teacher...no one could tell me how high functioning he could be.  That was the scary part.  I didn't have a plan.

I quickly had to adjust my plan and find a way to help my child while still being a mom to his twin brother.  I looked into every therapy possible, enrolled in special schools, special diets, supplements...you name it, we looked into it.  My plan was slowly coming together but wasn't quite falling into place.  I was forgetting something.  But what?  I pushed forward and kept researching as much as possible.  The answer to help my son was out there somewhere.

Then, it hit me and it hit me hard.  Where was God in all of this?  Why am I so quick to turn to google to find my answers and not trust in Him?  Why haven't I given this to God for my new plan?  I could remember asking God "why?  Why my son?"  What I didn't ask was "What should I do Lord?  What is Your plan?"

Psalm 27:14 reminds us to "wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

As we are finding our way through this world of autism, God wants us to wait for Him.  How do we wait?  Just like "Kate" in the story Karen Kingsbury tells us in Week 6, we need to move on.  This is our new life.  We need to find out what God wants us to do with this new life.  Is it to help other parents who have a child newly diagnosed?  Is it to be a light for the children who are on the spectrum?  Maybe it's to reach out to the siblings of children with autism.  There are so many ways that we can help and so many people God needs us to help as we wait for Him.

I quickly changed my prayers into wanting God's Will to be done.  I did away with my "plan" and kept the dream in my heart.

My dream looks quite differently than I thought it would when I was younger.  However, it's still my dream.  I'm a mom!  I get to play all day, teach, love and learn so much from both of my children.  Yes, one of my sons has autism, but it doesn't define who he is as child, who I am as a mom or who we are as a family.  It just changed my dream inside my heart into one that means so much more.

Week 5: God's Ways...Scripture Reading: Genesis 30:1-24

This week's devotion from Miracles by Karen Kingsbury is from Genesis 30:1-24.  Karen Kingsbury tells us about a couple who have struggled to have their own children for years.  They finally reach a point where they are able to put their fears of adoption aside and trust in God.  God ended up giving them a child through adoption.

How do we, as parents of children with autism, apply this devotion to our lives?  For me, the following verse that Karen Kingsbury wrote grabbed ahold of my heart...

"They're all on loan, when you think about it."  Margaret let the idea sink in.  All children belong to God.  His to give, his to take, on loan for a season."

God has entrusted us with His children.  They are all "on loan" to us.  You are the parent that God knew your children needed the most.  As parents of children with autism we are faced with many decisions and many paths to take to help our children.  I amazed at all of the new paths that are put in front of us almost daily on what we can do to help them.  How do we know what to do?  Which path to take?

We need to remember that all of our children are God's "on loan" to us.  We need to ask Him what paths we should take.

Let's look at this even further...God has trusted us with our amazing children with special needs.  He knows how much your children need you as their parents and not anyone else.  You are the parents who can help them feel better, build them up, love on them, provide them the patience and understanding they need.  No one else.  God chose you.

I know how overwhelming and hard the days (and the nights) can be.  I know you have probably asked "why my child, why our family, why me?"  God knows you, knows your child and knows your family.  He knows the strength, the love and the happiness you can give your child.  He chose you.  You can do this.   

Our children are on loan to us from God.  We need to care for them as He needs us to.  Ask God what He needs for you to do for your child and for Him.

"They are the children God has graciously given your servant."  -Genesis 33:5

Miracles: Week 4 A Series Of Miracles Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-25

This week's devotion is from Luke 1:5-25.  Karen Kingsbury tells us the story of a couple who never gave up on the love they have for each other and they knew that no matter what they would one day be married and have six children.  The obstacles that were thrown their way didn't stop them from believing what they knew God promised them.

What has God promised you?  Are you being patient in all of our obstacles as you wait for His promise to come true?

Luke 1:5-25 tells us about Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth.  Zechariah and his wife were very old and even though they wanted children, they were never able to have any children in their early years.  One day when they were very old, an angel appeared to Zechariah and told him of a promise from God that he will one day have a son and he will name him John.  Zechariah did not believe the angel because of how their ages and he didn't understand how it was impossible.    The angel then told Zechariah because he doubted God, he will not be able to speak until the baby is born.  God delivered on this promise and Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had a baby boy and named him John.  John the Baptist.

I ask you again, what has God promised you and are you trusting in God to deliver this promise or are you doubting it can be done?  When you start doubting whether God will come through with His promises, please remember this verse...

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking it is impossible.  But with God everything is possible."  Matthew 19:26

Again...

But with God everything is possible.  Don't lose hope on the promise that God has placed in your heart.  Know that God is with us and is helping us through this time while we patiently wait for His promises to come true.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  - James 1:17

Join Us Next Week!

Hi All,

We hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday! Please join us next week for the next part of this study.