“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:15-16 NIV
When I look back upon my life, I can observe many instances in which God has blessed me in ways that I never would have expected. Raising a special needs child is a path that I never thought I would be walking down, but one that I would not trade for the world.
When Connor was a small child, his infectious personality was already developing. His language was very limited, but he was able to communicate in ways that touched the hearts of everyone he came in contact with. He never met a stranger. We would pass by people in the grocery store, Connor would always say ‘hi’ to them. They would respond, and Connor would break out in some form of gibberish. This often took people by surprise because on the outside Connor looked like a typical child.
Though Connor voices his needs uniquely, he does so in a way that communicates the beauty of special abilities. He is approachable, kind, and enthusiastic. His love for life allows him to carry the message of the gospel far and wide without saying a word.
No doubt, there are difficult days and often long nights, yet I continually see that I serve a God who sees me, Connor, and our every need. If you find yourself standing knee-deep in the trenches of motherhood, with a child who has complex needs, I pray that you would lift your eyes and look to the God who sees.
God sees the needs of your child before you know them yourself. He is aware of every heartbeat, every breath, and every step that your child will take. He has crafted your baby with purpose and intentionality and He is authoring the most beautiful story - in the story, there is space for both deep grief and unimaginable grace. Some pages may be stained with tears while others have you facing insurmountable fears. Though this story has many plot twists and unexpected events, one thing remains consistent. The story of every special needs mama is laced with resilience and redemption.
Parenting special people requires a special heart, one that advocates for the needs of her children from the very start. Determining the needs of our children can be challenging as mothers. But when the struggles are real, it is helpful to remember that all we must do is surrender. We lay down our needs at Jesus’ throne through prayer and supplication. There is no need that goes unseen by the God of all creation. If you are tired, if you are sick, if you are hurting or overwhelmed, lift your eyes up to the God who sees you and in whom your hope is found. In Him, you will find joy and peace that spans beyond your wildest dreams. God is good; His word is true; and the truth is, mama, that He has chosen you. He has appointed you for this moment in time.
Let your light shine brightly. For the God who sees you knows your story. Through it, you will bring Him glory.
Your fellow Able Mom, Misty Phillip
Lord, I pray that you will sustain, uphold, and keep these special mamas close. I pray that you will guide and direct their steps and that through the truth of your word, they would be blessed. I pray that you will open their eyes to the God who sees and knows their every need. Connect with Misty: misty@mistyphillip.com We NOW have this DEVO in SPANISH!!!! Check it out right here!! If you didn’t hear about Mom Comm 2023, when and where, join Able Moms Communities and watch our video here. Don't miss our version of moms-night-out every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. CST - laugh with your Able Moms team live on Facebook (Not an Able Mom Member yet?) Join us! Start here AbleMoms.org Follow Able Moms on IG at https://www.instagram.com/able_moms/
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