Fearfully, Wonderfully...

How Do Those With Special Needs Serve in Your Church? (Part 2)

2008-06-24T20:31:00.007-05:00

Several months ago, I asked the question, "How Do Those With Special Needs Serve in Your Church?" and I went on to describe how Kathy, a blind woman in our church, had stepped forward to tell Bible stories to our children during VBS week.

Well, it didn't stop there. My husband has begun selecting hymn stories for our worship service and giving them to her so she can listen to them on her page reader and memorize the content. Then, about once a month or so, someone brings a microphone to her during the worship service, and she introduces the song and tells the story behind its writing. It is so neat to hear these stories, and even "neat-er" that it's enabling someone whom others might overlook to be an important part of our family.

This year during Bible school, our Kathy really blossomed and helped us in so many ways. She signed up to be a helper in what turned out to be our largest children's class. She labeled the pictures in Braille so she'd know which one to hold up when; and again, she memorized the stories to tell to the class.

In addition, during breaks, she listened for when people were walking by or sounded busy and asked if there was anything she could do to help. "I'm just sitting still when my hands could be busy," she'd say. That offer was a lifesaver for me one particular morning when I had 100 pieces of paper to wad up and I'd forgotten to prepare that part of my lesson ahead of time.

She and her sister also did a lot of the "grunt work" for the decorating committee, and I'm sure if she never has to wad up another piece of newspaper to stuff into a fake boulder, she'll be thrilled.

There were a few humorous moments, though. Several times she'd admonish some of the children to "stop running, you'll get hurt!" as they clamored by. I'm glad she cared, except that many times, the children weren't running. It just had sounded like they were.

I just would smile to myself. I didn't have the heart to tell her.

How Do Those With Special Needs Serve in Your Church?

2007-09-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

We often talk about serving others, and that is wonderful. But have we ever thought of serving others by helping them to serve others?

Case in point: We have a lady in our church who is blind. As we were recruiting teachers for VBS last spring, she really wanted to get involved somehow and help. So we discussed it a bit, and found out that she's very good at memorizing and is a gifted storyteller.

We typed out the Bible stories for her so that she could use her "reader" to listen to them. Yes, it took a bit more effort than originally planned, but it was well worth it. Then, we invited her to be a special guest in a different class each day. I cannot tell you how excited she was to be able to get involved. This fall, we're going to have her try it again by being the guest storyteller in each of our children's Sunday school classes.

The Bible reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Many times, someone with special needs may be on the receiving end. How wonderful it is when they can experience the joy of giving instead.

So what about you? How do those with special needs serve in your church?

For Parents - What To Expect Emotionally --

2007-08-10T00:47:00.000-05:00

We were recently asked by another mom what we went through and how we coped when we first learned our child was "special needs." Here's a copy of my reply:

I think you should expect to go through cycles emotionally when you find out your child has a disability. You probably will go through the grief process (denial, anger, sadness, acceptance...) more than once as you have new realizations of what your little one may struggle with.

There are days when I'm on top of the world, thinking about what a blessing from God our child is; and there are times when I am down in the dumps, crying over his struggles. Somewhere along the way, I've come to realize that life on this earth isn't all joy or all sorrow -- it's a mixture of both; and that analogy holds for parenting a special needs child as well.

Sometimes, it is a whirlwind. I especially found that true when we first got the diagnosis and were making decisions. I experienced that a second time when we were getting our son set up with the school. I found that I had to know what the education laws were, I had to know what the best way to educate my son was, and then I had to educate others.

For me, the uncertainty is always the hardest to deal with. When I know what the reality is going to be, I can better adjust to it. But when there are so many if's and maybe's out there, it's a lot tougher.

Here are two verses that have helped me tremendously in finding spiritual focus and direction:

2 Cor. 1:4 -- talks about how we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. I can't tell you how many people God has put in our paths because of our son's disability -- some we have ministered to and some have ministered to us. To some believers, God has used us to inspire them; and to some, He has shone the light of the gospel.

John 9:3 -- is another verse I hold onto, knowing that God has a special plan to be glorified in my child. The man was born blind so that the works of God -- the power of God -- could be revealed and displayed in him.