http://vimeo.com/24147969 … [Read more...]
What Are You Looking At?
Someone recently asked me how I deal with people who stare at my severely disabled son in public? Truth is, every time I venture out into public with Jake I am essentially inviting the world to see a little of God’s grace in the life of my son. I try to maintain that gospel attitude when glances become stares. Deep inside I realize every stare is a thought, perhaps a question that … [Read more...]
There Is Hope!
I came across a heart wrenching statement Sunday afternoon (while reading through some old articles on disability) reminding me of a tragic tale of desperation and hopelessness: "We wish we had known she was feeling this desperate; we would have done what we could to help her.” Those were the words of the Morgan Autism Center executive director, Jennifer Sullivan, in San Jose, CA after … [Read more...]
20 Years of The Providence of God
"I don't know what the future holds for my disabled child, and it scares me to death!" This is probably one of the most common comments I hear from parents in the community of disability. My advice usually comes in the form of backward-glancing experience, and sounds something like this: "The providence of God is not a mountaintop where we stand and look outward at the future unfolding … [Read more...]
Longing for Heaven, Where There Will Be No More Tears
Last Sunday, as I was changing Jake’s clothes, (after a gallant but failed attempt to get him to the bathroom on time) I slid his leg braces off his crooked feet and stared for a while at the devices that are supposed to help him walk. “AFOs”: ankle-foot-orthotic. I hate them. He hates them. But like his thick glasses and his Springboard communication device, they have become so much a part of … [Read more...]
Cleaning up Urine and Praising God
It was Christmas—and there I was on my hands and knees in the bathroom, cleaning up urine…again. “I’m getting too old for this.” The scrubbing became more fervent as a wallowing sigh of “Why me?” escaped from my heart and a few self-pitying tears fell to the floor mixing with the mess from my teenage son’s latest “accomplishment.” Suddenly, I’m caught off guard by the unexpected, comforting … [Read more...]