We Were Given These Children: A Letter of Encouragement

Latest blog We Were Given These Children: A Letter of Encouragement is ready to be read online here https://www.fireflyfriends.com/uk/blog/we-were-given-these-children-a-letter-of-encouragement/ When I saw this tree, I could not help but remember God’s Word. “He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8 Being a parent can have its challenges for sure. However, being a parent or caregiver for a child with a disability takes challenges to a different level. You were given this child or children…you, and no one else. You are whom they need and whom they depend on. Not only are you brave, but you also have the soul to truly love them even on their hard days. You are motivated to give your child everything they need. It takes a heart of courage to wake up every morning and do it all over again, yet you do it, every single day! I know you are exhausted most days, but somehow you pull through and take care of the needs of another human being, even before your own needs. The best part is that you find such a deep joy in this child that God has placed in your care. God trusted you enough with one, or more, of his special children, and I know you make Him proud. I also know, some days it doesn’t feel like anyone might be proud of us. We have some downright ugly days that we feel like such a failure. God does not see us that way. Remember to let go of past so-called mistakes. I do not believe there are true mistakes if we learn from them. If we are feeling depressed that means we most likely are living in the past. If we are feeling stressed and anxious that means we are most likely living in the future. Live in peace in the now and enjoy your days with these special children. Life is fleeting, too fleeting to live with any regrets. These children with special needs look to you, to your smile, to your gentle touch, and your ability to maintain your patience, even during the most difficult of days. You make their life OK. You are the bright spot in their day, their comfort, and their strength. You are theirs and they are yours. I write this blog because I know all too well how challenging life is for you. I too have a child with special needs. I know what most of you go through, as all our children have different levels of disability. At the end of the day, we all have commonalities on this journey. I know my daughter delights when I smile at her, when I hold her hand, and tell her how awesome she is. The joy she has brought into my life could never be replaced. To be fair, I must admit there have been many days I have wanted to give up, but this is not something we can just give up on. I know that is just my exhausted brain thinking and truly not where my heart is. My heart loves this child with all my being. Don’t be too hard on yourself when there are days you want to give up, or you don’t feel like you can “do this” anymore. Say only kind, encouraging words to yourself. My goal here is to encourage all of you. . Especially during this time of year. I know there is a lot more stress in my home during the holiday season. My daughter started getting excited about Christmas around the time the stores started putting up Christmas things, which as we all know is before Thanksgiving, and some start around Halloween. My daughter’s excitement turns into a serious case of stress and anxiety. One would think being excited isn’t a big deal. She is looking forward to a fun day; however, her excitement can turn into a meltdown at any moment. I know there are many of you that can relate to what I am saying. We all have our own ways of helping our children through this exciting stress. For me, I find redirecting as soon as I see any hint of a mood. We put all our fun events on the calendar. When she is overly excited, looking at the calendar helps her cope. Don’t forget to find some time for yourself during the holiday season. . I know this can be challenging, especially for some of you that do not have someone to help you. For those of you that do not have help of any kind, I pray that some comes your way. I believe God can provide whatever we need. I like to thank God in advance for providing whatever need it is I am asking Him for. Try that for yourself. Thank God for providing the right people, trustworthy people that will love your child and put their care and needs above all else. Believe in yourself, and on the days you are questioning yourself, remember that YOU HAVE GOT THIS, MY FRIEND!!! Be strong, like a tree planted by the water. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Emma and me! The post We Were Given These Children: A Letter of Encouragement appeared first on Firefly Blog . ************ https://www.fireflyfriends.com/uk/blog/special-needs/