God Gave Me A Special Gift, And Only He Knows Why!

God knows why he gave me a special gift, and he will help me handle it…

A few days ago, I shared a short post on special needs parenting on my Facebook timeline, and I realized that there are many people out there who are walking a similar path and in need of encouragement. What am I talking about? Autism. Autism visited our family in the first half of this year, and things have not been the same since.

After months of wishing that it was just a normal little boy’s delay, we decided to have an assessment done. The diagnosis was confirmed one fine day in April, and after that, the journey began. Autism does not just go away, you know, it has to be consciously worked on 24 hours a day, every day of the week. There have been times when I have asked God why us, why our family, but God has encouraged my heart. Let me share a couple of the lessons I have learnt so far.

God’s plan is always plan A

Autism landing in our family was not a mistake – it was part of God’s plan for us. He knew the why, how and when long before my little one came along. God knew that this challenge would be a blessing for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

This verse from Jeremiah is one of those that everyone quotes without a second thought, right? But what does it really mean for a special child? I believe that God has plans for each differently abled child and that they are good plans! Think about it – every kid who is differently abled is talented in a certain area. Some are good with numbers, others are great with their hands, and others are brilliant musicians.  That talent is what will open doors for them in future, give them a chance to be independent, and enable them to excel in fields where not many other people succeed.

I am learning to accept that God’s plan for my little one is and will always be Plan A and that there is no Plan B. God’s plan was perfect from the very beginning.

Being differently abled is a gift from God

Psalm 139:14 “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (NLT)

It’s easy to look at a ‘normal’ child and say, “how beautiful and talented she is,” isn’t it? How easily and quickly do you say those words when you meet someone physically impaired or intellectually challenged? Food for thought…

After the diagnosis, I started to see my little one in a new light. I began to ask myself questions about how the verse above from Psalms would apply to his life – wonderfully complex, marvelous workmanship, etc. The Lord then reminded me of the prayers I prayed even before conception, and how he had answered each one. The question that rung in my heart was, “Do you realize that what you have in your hand is a gift?”

I have a gift in my hands – and he is differently abled. God gave me the gift I asked for, and in his wisdom, added a little more to the package. Though that little extra in the package may be challenging, it does not reduce the quality of his workmanship in any way. That little extra is what the verse refers to as “wonderfully complex!”

God gives strength to nurture the gift

Special needs parents have a rough time, I must say. There are no off days, no breaks, and sometimes going out of the house is a challenge. Differently abled kids need lots of patience, love, time and energy.

I sometimes have days when I can’t take it any more – days when the whole thing seems too big to handle. Just when I am about to throw in the towel, though, God steps in and renews my strength. Sometimes it takes something as small as a new word, or a new skill to lift up my spirits.

Having the Lord right beside me through this journey has been so encouraging. He carries my burdens, lifts up my spirits, sends people my way to encourage me, and sends good days our way often. The Lord has truly been my strength, and because of him, I am able to nurture my differently abled child.

Psalm 16:8 “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” (NLT)

This verse is one of those I have held onto for a while – a reminder that the Lord is always beside me and I will not be shaken.

Dear friends, I would like to encourage my fellow special needs parents not to give up, but to stay close to God. Remember that God’s plan for your little one is Plan A and that there is a special and unique gift hidden beneath the exterior that the world does not understand. Most importantly, God walks beside you every step of the way, giving you the strength to handle the challenging moments and to celebrate the milestones!

 

 

 

Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for reading this week’s article. Do you know someone who would benefit from what I have shared? Please share the article with them. Also, don’t forget to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Have a great week!