Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I just love the opportunity to gather with family and reflect on all the things we are grateful for, realize how blessed we truly are, all while eating some amazing food.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV
Although I don’t always love the special needs parenting journey I am on, there are plenty of things I am thankful for. Today, I’d like to share with you the five things I am most thankful for in this special needs journey.
1) Progress
It’s so easy to focus on all the areas our children are struggling, their weaknesses, how far they are behind their peers.
In the Genesis account of God creating the world, He said “it was good,” after everything He created. He didn’t just say “it was good,” when it was all done. We must do that too. Celebrate the little victories as well as the big. Celebrate not just the huge milestones, but every little inch in between. And whether they’ve made a lot of progress, or just a little, progress is progress and I’m very thankful for it!
2) Strength
Being a special needs parent molds you into a different person. Stronger, more determined, more resilient, more passionate about a world you hadn’t experienced before. I’m thankful for that.
But the way I’ve grown the strongest? Is my faith. Sure, I’ve questioned God a lot in this journey, but I also trust Him more than I ever did before. I need to rely on God like never before. My faith is totally different now, than it was six or seven years ago when my older son started getting diagnosis after diagnosis, and I am so very thankful for that.
3) Community
I’ll admit, I’ve lost a few friends in this special needs journey. But I’ve gained so many more. Whether I met them online or God’s allowed our paths to cross in real life, I’ve met people I never would have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
And I’m so thankful for each and every one of my friends, family members, my children’s teachers and therapists. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I’m so grateful for mine, for all the people who pour into my children in ways I cannot and celebrate with me every new bit of progress.
4) Education
I was a middle school English teacher before becoming a special needs parent. The things I’ve learned since this journey began are priceless to me. I devour books on sensory processing and speech and language as if they were the middle school books I used to love and recommend to my students. I appreciate all the new things I’ve learned that have helped me care for my own children. And I’m always thankful when I’m able to share my new insights with others.
This new education I’ve attained has opened my eyes to a bigger world than I had previously experienced. A world where I now have more compassion, more understanding, more passion for advocating for what is best for each and every child. I know that if I were to ever return to the classroom, my teaching would be totally changed because of everything I’ve learned on this journey.
And last, but definitely not least,
5) My Children
I loved my children even before they were born. And when both of them received diagnosis after diagnosis, I grieved. I cried. I feared for their future. I’ve compared them to other kids and felt devastated at how far behind they are their peers.
But I’m thankful I have the privilege of watching them blossom in their own way. I’m proud of how hard they work to learn what comes so easily to others. I love their own ways they interact with the world and they show love. I love celebrating with them when they learn a new word or a new skill. They bring so much joy and purpose to my life and I am so thankful that God gave them to me.
What are you thankful for in this special needs journey?
If you were encouraged by this, you may want to check out my new book, Embracing This Special Life: Learning to Flourish as a Mother of a Child With Special Needs.
Embracing This Special Life will help you:
-View the special needs parenting journey from a biblical perspective
-Release expectations, negative thoughts, and emotions that are not healthy for you or your family
-Embrace God, yourself, your children, this special needs journey, and life itself to its fullest
This practical and encouraging book will guide you toward spiritual victory and renewed purpose in your special needs parenting journey.
