What people may see when they look at a child with a disability may be fact-based, but if they looked using God’s eyes, they would see much more than the diagnosis or special need.
When the Lord sent Samuel to find the next king he said to Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7):
Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
When my son Ryan was born 2001 with Down syndrome, I was told all the things he wouldn’t or couldn’t do. The medical staff only saw Down syndrome, but I saw a child with potential and one that would or could accomplish exactly what God wants him to. His early intervention specialists were amazed when he would achieve something that they said, “Down syndrome kids don’t do.” A perfect example is one day they walked into our house and saw Ryan playing on a sit n spin going around and around. They looked at me and said those exact words “Downs kids don’t do that.” All I could think was, well, someone forgot to tell Ryan that! When you only see the label or disability you miss out on the possibility of potential and achievement.
Close your eyes for a minute (well, read this first and then close your eyes ) and imagine you are standing on Main street somewhere watching a parade go by. Everyone is shoulder to shoulder, squeezed in tight. What can you see? Only what is passing in front of you at that moment right? Now, imagine God is on the rooftop of a tall building watching the same parade. What does He see? He sees the beginning, the end, AND the middle. Ok, open your eyes . If all anyone can see is what is in front of them at that moment, then how can they say what our children will or will not be able to do in the future? I am not saying they shouldn’t give us the facts based on what they know, but when we hear “they can’t, they won’t” we need to stay focused on God, who sees all of the parade, and who knows ALL that our children were created to accomplish!
Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Of course, that doesn’t mean He gives us the superhuman strength to accomplish anything we imagine, but when we are joining together with Christ and His will, then His strength will help us face troubles, pressures, trials and those appointments that leave us feeling like a deflated balloon. It’s OK to feel that way, but when we do, we can talk to God about it and remember that all children are a gift from God.
Every diagnosis and special need came from Him because they were created for a specific purpose and that they are the apple of His eye!
