Day 2: New Paths New Joys

By Michelle Grace

Boston Church of Christ – Metro Region

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 (NLT)

In the Summer of 2008, my husband and I planned a Cape Cod family vacation.  It was not just any vacation—this was our first one as a family of three.  Our son came into our lives through adoption in early 2007 and after a year of adjustments, we were ready for this milestone.

We were beyond excited to enjoy the fun activities the Cape had to offer for families with young children.  Our two-and-a-half-year-old son loved his pancakes so the vacation would not be complete without a family breakfast at The Pancake Man restaurant.  We sat down and ordered our food and waited with anticipation for the delicious plates that would arrive to our table.

As we began to dive into our meals, our son had a major meltdown.  And it was MAJOR.  So as not to disturb the other diners, my husband quickly took him to the car, and I waited at the table to box up our uneaten food and pay the bill.  Not quite the breakfast experience we had planned to start our day.

Since that time, we have had many more scenarios like this one.  Our now 15-year-old son lives with autism and experiences a variety of sensory issues and is easily over stimulated with loud noises and situations.

Back then, I wanted desperately to provide my son with a full life complete with friends, outings, sports, trips to Disney, and so much more.  But, with his special needs, it was not always possible.  And it left me feeling sad, disappointed, and discouraged at times. 

In John 10:10, Jesus says:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (NLT)

Although it certainly felt like autism was destroying the full life I wanted for my child, God showed me that there was hope for a rich and satisfying life for my son and our family.

Vacation plans shifted from Disney to lighthouse trekking in Maine.  Take Out became our best friend even before Door Dash was popular.  And long family drives to new areas provided an adventure and learning experience for our map-loving son.  We have even enjoyed many summer vacations on the Cape.   And although we have never made it back to The Pancake Man, we often drive by and laugh about the time we had to make an early exit!

When I let go of my expectations for my son’s life and accepted our reality, I found that there were so many things to discover and enjoy along this new path.  I am so grateful to God for allowing me to see that my son’s unique needs led me to a life that was even “more than I could ask or imagine”. (Ephesians 3:20)

This journey of parenting a child (now a teenager) with special needs is not without its challenges but I have learned to embrace our family situation with joy and gratitude.  It truly is, as Jesus promised, life to the full.

As mothers, we all experience challenges, heartaches, or disappointments as we raise our children.  How do we choose to see these situations?  Do they steal our joy of motherhood or are we able to persevere and learn from them so we can experience life to the full?

Practicals:

Every child is fearfully and wonderfully made by our Heavenly Father.  Reflect on your child’s unique nature and the things you have learned through them.


Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this quiet time feel free to leave a comment below!

See all the quiet times from this series here: https://www.icocne.org/category/wisdom-for-moms/

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Lionel Leaming
Lionel Leaming
3 years ago

Thanks for sharing. Very helpful insights I can use. God is good even in difficult situation.

Chardeline
Chardeline
3 years ago

“When I let go of my expectations for my son’s life and accepted our reality, I found that there were so many things to discover and enjoy along this new path.”

This was so good. Its so true that expectation is the enemy of joy and peace. Especially with a toddler, tantrums are real. I can’t take it personally. Just adjust.

Patrick G.
Patrick G.
3 years ago

Love this ! Thank you so much !!!

Wanda Roman
Wanda Roman
2 years ago

Hi Michelle,
Greetings from Wisconsin!👋 Thanks for sharing. 💗 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 (NLT)