Something happened at church. Or perhaps what you need to know is, what didn’t happen. I pulled up to the church and Max bounced out of the car swinging his favorite vacuum. Several people were unsuspectingly milling around by the front door, exchanging greetings. “Watch out for the people!” I yelled behind Max as I watched his 8-pound Oreck swing like a ten ton wrecking ball. I fully expected … [Read more...]
Special-Needs Parents: What Is Your Faith in Today?
We need faith. Faith that His purpose and will for our lives and the lives of our children will be fulfilled. Faith that when doctors, therapist, teachers, and even friends and family members fail us, He never will. In Mark 5, we meet a woman who had tried to find relief from many doctors, “And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much … [Read more...]
Taking Autism Awareness to My Son’s School
Several months ago, I was sitting in an IEP meeting at my son's school when it happened. We were discussing the problems Sam was having making friends, and I explained the frustrations he felt over moving and struggling to find a new best friend. It was hard for him to do that, considering how he was being made fun of at recess because of his scripting and lightsaber fighting, acting out his … [Read more...]
The Angel of the Lord Encamps Around Those Who Fear Him
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7 A dream image from years ago fills my mind’s eye as I sit in Lectio Divina with this verse. In the dream, a group of friends and I are gathered on lawn chairs in a horse-shoe shaped field, ringed on one end by houses. It is a beautiful night, the rural sky inky-black and star-studded; the summer air soft … [Read more...]
If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It
There are two vases in our home at each side of our front door. One of the vases fell and the top was broken off and now it has a crack in it. Instead of throwing it away we put it back together. It's a little more fragile than the other vase but it's still beautiful. Can you tell which one is broken? You have to get up close to see the imperfection because though the vase is cracked it still … [Read more...]
Schools Over, Now What?
Do you stress over when school ends and you have no idea what your child will do over the summer? Do you worry how you will pay for that special camp? Are you nervous about not finding a "special" camp? Are you afraid they will forget what they have been learning? Well, I have a confession. I do this sometimes. My son just finished his 7th-grade year and now he had his first day of … [Read more...]