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Editor’s Letter, May 2009
Yes, Lord, unfortunately this is true of us. We do not easily seek You or obey without the rod of affliction. It may take a long time before we’re able to say it, but when that day comes, when we acknowledge that the pain we’ve struggled and struggled against has actually done us some good, well, then we’ve reached a wiser plane. We can see the value of discipline because we see its fruits. In light of the harvest, Your rod and staff do comfort, Lord. In addition to the articles in this issue, if you want to explore this topic further, you will find excellent material at this site: http://specialneedsparenting.suite101.com/articles.cfm/feature_writers Comfort Cafe’s editor, Ruth Wood, brings a personal connection to the site through her blog. Her latest posts are: Why I’m Mad At My Cat. See Ruth’s Blog. Deb Allen is the author of Creation Speaks—short devotionals illustrated by beautiful photos she’s taken of nature. Enjoy her latest posts at www.heartscribeforhim.com/CreationSpeaks1.htm. Trish’s simple testimony is that God has always had a hold on her life, but now she has submissively given it totally to him. “God has always been there holding onto me thru the years. He does have a purpose and a plan, and I am finally living it for him. I am his instrument and his alone”. See I nodded my head with a lump in my throat. “Yes, I know,” I whispered. A mental picture raced through my head of my angry and desperate spirit, standing solid, even as my heart melted over my dispirited child, my special needs son. My eyes welled instantly from the pain I experienced as he suffered. The threat to identity is one of the lesser understood difficulties which parents face. However, upon learning that these feelings are normal, parents can find ways of maintaining a strong sense of “self”, or reshape their identities. Siblings of special needs children may find their brother or sister challenging. However, with informed guidance, the sibling relationship can be strong and rewarding. Parents learning their child has a disability can signal a grief process commonly experienced as shock, disbelief, perhaps denial, anger, sadness until, hopefully, acceptance. However, once parents have passed through the initial shock, it is not just a matter of acceptance and getting on with their lives. There is a lot of work ahead of them. Romans 8:28 is one of the best known verses in the whole Bible: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Did I say this was one of the “best known” verses of Scripture? Let me revise that statement. It is one of the most often quoted verses of Scripture. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to quote a verse without really knowing it. A few months ago a friend shared his experience using his wife’s Global Positioning System (GPS). Because of all the construction, he decided to veer off the main road and try some back roads.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. (Psalm 119:67)
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In This Issue: Tips For Parenting Special Needs Children
Ruth’s Blog
Photography Blog
Coffee Shop Concert—Trish Crane
Coffee Shop Concert page.Articles
Line of Hope, by Marianne Miles
Identity Issues Parenting Special Needs Children, by Ruth Mortimer
Parenting Siblings of Special Needs Children, by Ruth Mortimer
Grief Reactions to Special Needs Diagnosis, by Ruth Mortimer
Romans 8:28—What Does It Really Mean?, by Randy AlcornDevotionals
God—Our GPS, by Bridget Gazlay
I’m always suspect of others, but especially myself, when we quote this scripture to “Delight yourself in the Lord…” I’m suspicious that my primary desire is to have my own way, and delighting in God is only a means to this end. Moreover, what does it mean, to ‘delight’ in God? How do you do that?
God’s Special Gift, by Shelley L Houston