No matter where you are on your special parent journey...if you've just stumbled upon the beginning of the road, and are searching for signs everywhere or you've been on this path for quite sometime, and you are very familiar with your surroundings , I hope and pray you will relate to the words that are on my heart this month..
When you are in the midst of "survival mode," (the time when you feel like this road is that of a marathon, and you must get to all services and physicians that may help your child asap--you are trying tirelessly to win this race--and all other things in your world have been pushed aside)...you don't see any of the scenery that goes along with the special parenting path. And for the time being, that's ok. It's a great place to be when you've accepted that your child is differently- abled in some way than other kids, and you just want to do anything and everything that may help him or her--right now.
As you take on each day in this mode, it is easy to become frustrated, though--you want to see results, and you have a certain expectation of what's to come. Even though you've probably never walked on this road before, you want certain things for your child.
You make decisions that feel good in your gut--and you go for them. And because of that, you want them to produce some sort of success, even the tiniest sign of hope, for your child's future.
My prayer this month is that if this is where you are--don't try to figure it all out. As I say often, I don't claim to know everything about special parenthood, I just give you words based on my experiences...but if the few paragraphs above describe you at this moment, trust me--just try to take it one step at a time.
With each service you decide on or decide not to have your child partake in, you are taking steps toward their future. Try not to have a picture in your mind of the way each twist and turn will look--you'll know that part of the road is over when you get there.
Yes, there will be many bumps and stop signs along the way, just travel with an open heart and mind, and let the Lord be your guide. He put that special parent gut instinct inside of you--trust it , and roll with it no matter what the result looks like.
He chose you for this amazing task, and He'll be with you each step of the way.
You're going to survive the journey--allow yourself to take it one step at a time.
~Maria
