As I have said before, being a mom means wearing several different hats. When you are the mother (or parent, dads can wear many hats too!) of a special needs child your hat wardrobe expands even more! I know that after the smoke settled with Caleb’s illness, I had to take on new roles that I didn’t feel that I was equipped or educated enough to handle. Apparently the Lord had other plans for me! (How often does that happen to you??) Anyway, I have become a public speaker (have I ever mentioned how terrified I am of speaking in front of people?), a writer (okay, it may not be a book, but my words are still seen by unmet friends!), and an advocate for any and all things that will make life easier not just for our little family, but for others who may be or will go through an ordeal like this.Most recently one of my goals has been to start a support group for children and their families with a brain injury. I was told on more than one occasion that there just wasn’t a need for a … [Read more...]
TweetFirst and Lasts for a Mother’s Child
Warning: Many, many tears were shed writing this. Please understand this is coming from a broken heart, so it may not be as elegantly written as others!Mother’s Day is right around the corner. For me this is a bittersweet holiday that I am learning to celebrate in a different way. I have always been one of those moms who cherish each first in a child’s life. My kids’ baby books are filled with “first smile”, “first steps”, “first tooth”…all the way up to “first day of work”. And yes, I cried at all of these momentous occasions!A few years ago, however, I read a children’s book by my favorite Christian author Karen Kingsbury. In this book she celebrated not a child’s “firsts”, but their “lasts”: “last” first day of Preschool, “last” time at bat for Little League, “last” first day of senior year. I read this book to Alana and Caleb and cried so hard that they could barely understand the words! It was so sad for me to think of all … [Read more...]
TweetWhat Can I Say?
Words are powerful. They can brighten someone’s day, give them a purpose in life, or bring them back from despair. They can also cut a person to shreds. Once spoken, these words can never be taken back or forgotten. No matter how many “I’m sorrys” you offer, the damage is done.I have often been told that my words are powerful. Unfortunately at that time I was not using them for a good purpose. I have a short temper, no patience and a very low tolerance for ignorance. Those are my three worst traits! If someone made me mad or wasn’t doing what “I” thought was right, I could bring them to tears with just a few words. Of course I would feel awful afterwards, but at the time I thought I was doing my duty of helping them see the error of their ways!It has (and still is) been a work in progress, but I can honestly say that the Lord has tamed my tongue by leaps and bounds! I realize how much words can hurt. On the same token, I also realize how much words can help. And … [Read more...]
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