Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world,
Red and Yellow, Black and White,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
I find myself singing this song over and over lately. I have been babysitting our new grandchild, Matthew, who is from China. Every day when I hug him and I kiss him I am awestruck that he is a part of our family and how much Jesus loves him.
Jesus loves ALL children. What a wonderful comfort this is to parents of children with special needs. Sometimes we forget the simple truths. In the Bible (Matthew 19:14) Jesus says, "Suffer (allow the) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and all the other terms that are applied to people who have special needs are labels this world chooses to use. They are just that--labels. Jesus doesn't see the labels--He sees our children as children and He dearly loves each one.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Beautiful Angel and A Doll House
We have only two granddaughters. The oldest, Jeannette, is almost 20 years old (wow!) and she moved to another state when she was 2 1/2 years old so I do not see her often. Our other granddaughter, appropriately named Angelina Bella (beautiful angel), is 3 1/2 years old and she loves dolls! Yes--she loves dolls! I have a granddaughter after my own heart! I have a doll collection that I started many years ago. Angelina knows that she can't play with the porcelain dolls and she is a very obedient little girl. I also have a few dolls that are make of collectible vinyl. There is one in particular that Angelina loves and she knows that I allow her to gently play with this doll.
In my front closet is an unfinished dollhouse. Some months ago, when we went into the front closet to get some toys, she noticed it. Oh how she wanted to play with it! "I'm sorry sweetheart," I said, "but that house is not finished. Maybe when you get bigger, you and grandma can finish it together." It was only a month or two later when she and I went into the front closet again. Looking at the doll house, she put her hand on top of her head, then looked up at me with her beautiful smile and big dimples, and said, "I'm bigger now, grandma."
I don't want her to grow up too quickly, but I do look forward to finishing that doll house with her.
In my front closet is an unfinished dollhouse. Some months ago, when we went into the front closet to get some toys, she noticed it. Oh how she wanted to play with it! "I'm sorry sweetheart," I said, "but that house is not finished. Maybe when you get bigger, you and grandma can finish it together." It was only a month or two later when she and I went into the front closet again. Looking at the doll house, she put her hand on top of her head, then looked up at me with her beautiful smile and big dimples, and said, "I'm bigger now, grandma."
I don't want her to grow up too quickly, but I do look forward to finishing that doll house with her.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Babysitting Matthew
Good Morning!
Today I start babysitting Matthew. His mom (my daughter-in-law) teaches at a local Christian school. I know it is hard for her to leave him and it is going to be an adjustment for all of us. I look forward to loving on him and am praying that he adjusts quickly to being with me. How I thank God for this wonderful addition to our family. He is so loved!
So, if I don't blog quite as often as I have been, please have patience with me. I will whenever I get the chance.
Have a great day!
Today I start babysitting Matthew. His mom (my daughter-in-law) teaches at a local Christian school. I know it is hard for her to leave him and it is going to be an adjustment for all of us. I look forward to loving on him and am praying that he adjusts quickly to being with me. How I thank God for this wonderful addition to our family. He is so loved!
So, if I don't blog quite as often as I have been, please have patience with me. I will whenever I get the chance.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Winter Memories
After shoveling the fresh 6 1/2 inches of snow today, Trent asked me, "When is winter going to end and how much more snow are we going to get?"
I replied, "We are just in the first part of winter. We have a long ways to go."
I thought back to when our children were young. Snow covered the ground from Thanksgiving Day until the end of March. Our daughter went ice skating every time she had a chance. There was an area right next to her school that the park district flooded with water and it would freeze--and actually stay frozen the whole winter.
Don and I took our children every winter to the toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff (Palos Park). What a ride! I remember that feeling of fear as as we quickly approached the first drop. I hugged one of my children close to me. The ride was over in seconds! Then there was the walk back up--120 stairs to be exact--to experience the thrill all over again. Needless to say, we didn't go down the slide too many times--the trip back up was difficult--especially with little ones to carry in our arms.
Then the climate changed and our winters became milder. No more outdoor ice skating. It was just too warm. There wasn't enough snow to go tobogganing, or when we did get snow, the warm weather soon melted it. The toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff were no longer open. Eventually the wood slides rotted and cement ones were built. Just a few years ago those were torn down from lack of use. We were all convinced that global warming had changed everything.
I wish those slides were still in use. I would have loved to take our grandchildren there to enjoy something that their parents enjoyed when they were kids. But I'm afraid that Don and I would need an escalator now!
I replied, "We are just in the first part of winter. We have a long ways to go."
I thought back to when our children were young. Snow covered the ground from Thanksgiving Day until the end of March. Our daughter went ice skating every time she had a chance. There was an area right next to her school that the park district flooded with water and it would freeze--and actually stay frozen the whole winter.
Don and I took our children every winter to the toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff (Palos Park). What a ride! I remember that feeling of fear as as we quickly approached the first drop. I hugged one of my children close to me. The ride was over in seconds! Then there was the walk back up--120 stairs to be exact--to experience the thrill all over again. Needless to say, we didn't go down the slide too many times--the trip back up was difficult--especially with little ones to carry in our arms.
Then the climate changed and our winters became milder. No more outdoor ice skating. It was just too warm. There wasn't enough snow to go tobogganing, or when we did get snow, the warm weather soon melted it. The toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff were no longer open. Eventually the wood slides rotted and cement ones were built. Just a few years ago those were torn down from lack of use. We were all convinced that global warming had changed everything.
I wish those slides were still in use. I would have loved to take our grandchildren there to enjoy something that their parents enjoyed when they were kids. But I'm afraid that Don and I would need an escalator now!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
SPECIAL MOTHERS
Years ago, when Trent was young, I was sent the following prose, which I am about to share. Unfortunately, the author is unknown. I included this in my book, Beyond the Clouds, because it touched my heart. I am not anyone special, but I do thank God that he chose me to be Trent's mother. I am hoping that today there will be a mother who is blessed by this. Keep in mind that this had to be written at least 40 years ago.
SPECIAL MOTHERS
(author unknown)
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth," son... "Forrest, Marjorie," daughter... "Rutledge, Carrie," twins. Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I am going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in You."
God smiles, "No matter; I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing My work as surely as she is here by My side."
"And how about her inner strength?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid air.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And we all know that our inner strength comes from God!!!
Enjoy His blessings today!!
SPECIAL MOTHERS
(author unknown)
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth," son... "Forrest, Marjorie," daughter... "Rutledge, Carrie," twins. Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I am going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in You."
God smiles, "No matter; I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing My work as surely as she is here by My side."
"And how about her inner strength?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid air.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And we all know that our inner strength comes from God!!!
Enjoy His blessings today!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
2009 is here!
What a joy it was to see my son and daughter-in-law and their new son, Matthew, walk into church yesterday. Both Chet and Phyllis just glowed! I know that people may be tired of hearing about my new grandson, but we can not help but rejoice about this wonderful gift God has given to them (and to us).
And Matthew seems to have taken a liking to his grampa! Of course, grampa doesn't like that!! My husband's eyes light up when Matthew reaches for him. Matthew adds sunshine to our lives, just as grandchildren do--each one of them!!
I am looking forward to seeing what God does in our lives in 2009. We already have some wonderful opportunities. Here are some of the things God is leading us to do this year in the Wonderfully Made ministry:
Visit and encourage new prospects for our Sunday School Class (for teens and adults).
Plan a quarterly activity for Wonderfully Made.
Start a group for young mothers who have a child with special needs--meeting at our home once a month.
I am also looking forward to speaking at the Voice of Care conference in February. This is a wonderful opportunity.
We need prayer. We aren't as young as we use to be and each thing we do seems to take double the effort. God is able to give us all we need. Jesus could come for His bride at any moment. We need to be reaching people for Him!!!
And Matthew seems to have taken a liking to his grampa! Of course, grampa doesn't like that!! My husband's eyes light up when Matthew reaches for him. Matthew adds sunshine to our lives, just as grandchildren do--each one of them!!
I am looking forward to seeing what God does in our lives in 2009. We already have some wonderful opportunities. Here are some of the things God is leading us to do this year in the Wonderfully Made ministry:
Visit and encourage new prospects for our Sunday School Class (for teens and adults).
Plan a quarterly activity for Wonderfully Made.
Start a group for young mothers who have a child with special needs--meeting at our home once a month.
I am also looking forward to speaking at the Voice of Care conference in February. This is a wonderful opportunity.
We need prayer. We aren't as young as we use to be and each thing we do seems to take double the effort. God is able to give us all we need. Jesus could come for His bride at any moment. We need to be reaching people for Him!!!
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