Beyond Labels: Seeing the Beauty in EVERY Child

Do you ever feel like your child is looked down on because of their disability or special need?

In the world, you often see a differentiation between the “haves” and the “have nots.” Those in sports are esteemed more highly than the shelf stocker at Walmart. The advice of those with the largest following on social media or YouTube is more sought after than the grandfather or grandmother up the street.

Sadly, this can even be true at churches. I hear of many parents on this journey in special needs walking through the church doors looking for community and eventually walking away because they are made to feel like their child is a burden. Congregation members treated their child as less than and not really valued.

If this is your story, I’m sorry. This Easter season, I want to assure you that God does not see your son or daughter as less than.

Here are 5 ways that we can see this in the Bible. 

1. Your child is created in God's image

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

This verse reminds us that every person, including those with special needs, is created in God's image and is therefore uniquely valuable and important in God's eyes.

 

2. God sees beyond physical limitations

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘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.’”

– 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV

While human beings often focus on physical appearances and abilities, God looks at the heart. He sees beyond a person's disabilities to their true character and potential.

3. God sees my child's struggles and cares for them

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to see my child struggle with challenges or disabilities. But I take comfort in knowing that God sees their struggles and cares for them deeply. God is close to those who are brokenhearted, and I believe that He is with my child every step of the way.

4. We are all equal in Christ

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28 (NIV)

In this passage we can see that in Christ, there is no distinction between people based on their race, gender, or social status. This includes people with disabilities, who are equal members of the body of Christ. God values each person equally and desires for us to love and accept one another just as Christ has loved and accepted us (John 13:34-35).

5. God has given your child a unique gift or talent to share with the world

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

This verse reminds us that every person, including those with special needs, has unique gifts and talents that can be used to make a positive impact on the world. By valuing and nurturing these gifts, we can help our children to realize their full potential and make a positive difference in the world around them.

This Easter season, as we celebrate the death and resurrection of our savior, I want to encourage you that not only does our heavenly father know and love you. In the same way, He fully loves your son or daughter. He does not view them as a burden or less than.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

~ Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)

Written by Jonathan McGuire

---

Jonathan McGuire  is the dad of two boys and co-founder of Hope Anew, a nonprofit that guides the beat up, battered, and worn out parents of children impacted by disabilities and special needs through the spiritual and emotional challenges they face to Christ-centered hope and healing.

Love Your Neighbor

What do I do? This is the question that has kept going through my mind last week as I have seen so many families struggling. I’ve read the Facebook posts of my African American friends and my heart has wept with them. 

I am a middle aged white male that lives in an agricultural area that is 96.7% Caucasian. This makes me feel like I should be the last person to speak on this matter but when you see injustice you can’t remain quiet. When your friends are hurting, you don’t ignore it.

 I am going to step out on a limb here and share what I’ve learned about inclusion based on my experience as a dad of a child with special needs. I’m not pretending to understand the depth of the pain that people of color are experiencing and I’m not saying that the pain or injustice is equal.

As a special needs dad, I remember the disgusted looks when our son melted down in public. The comments and the whispering under the breath. I’ve seen the public make fun of those with disabilities. Kids calling other kids with developmental disabilities names and parents turning kids away so they wouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable around the nonverbal child.

The sad thing is that this is not just limited to public settings. I can share story after story of families who were told their child was not welcome at a church because they were “disruptive” or the church didn’t know how to come alongside them. I can share story after story of families of kids with disabilities that have completely walked away from the church because of how badly they’ve been hurt.

Perhaps this is your story. 

In Matthew 12, Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was. He replied that the first is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. He went on to say that the second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. 

As I look back at the period of time in our lives mentioned above, what our family would have wanted and what many of the other families we talk to would have wanted is to be loved and to have their children be loved. 

It is hard to love someone as yourself if you don’t know them.

In that season of a few years where things were especially rough, we only had one couple sit down with us and ask us how we were doing. They then just sat there and listened and listened and listened some more. They didn’t offer advice. They didn’t go into fix it mode. They didn’t make promises.

They loved us by listening.

So back to my original question. What do I do? I can love my neighbor as myself and I can do this by listening.

Written by Jonathan McGuire

Jonathan McGuire is the father of two sons and two sons and the Co-Founder of Hope Anew, a nonprofit that comes alongside the parents of children impacted by disabilities and special needs on a spiritual and emotional level.

You can follow Hope Anew on Facebook HERE. Hope Anew has launched the Hope Anew Online community and would love to have you be a part of it! You can learn more about it at WWW.HOPEANEW.COM.  

DUE TO COVID-19, HOPE ANEW IS WAIVING ALL MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY!

It's Memorial Day Weekend!

It is Memorial Day Weekend! I love Memorial Day! It signifies the beginning of summer. It is time for grilling, home-made ice-cream, swimming, picnics and going to the park. It is time for baseball, boating and spending time outdoors. The grass is green. The birds are singing. The flowers are blooming. You will probably find me out in the garden planting tomorrow and on Sunday afternoon you will find the average Indiana household glued to the tv watching cars racing around a track in the Indianapolis 500.

I love Memorial Day Weekend. I’m thankful for those who have given their lives in service of our country, protecting our freedoms and liberties and what this means for children with additional needs.

There are many battles that still need to be fought so people of all races and disabilities experience the same freedoms and privileges but because of the sacrifice of those fighting to defend our country, these other areas of growth can still happen.

Amidst the growing pains, I’m encouraged by seeing society generally becoming more inclusive of our children with additional needs. I’m excited to see this starting to impact our churches as we have the beginnings of a movement starting within the church. In this movement, leaders are beginning to recognize that we are a body and that when aspects of the body are left out, our church cannot function as it should.

Why do I share this? Am I intending for this to be a political post or a post about church reform? No, I’m sharing this because I’m thankful and want to encourage you. It is sometimes difficult to see the forest through the trees. It is easy to get caught up in our daily struggles and not have perspective of progress that is being made.

This Memorial Day weekend, we have a lot to be thankful for. Next time you see a veteran or someone in active service, take time to thank them for their service to our country and for the sacrifice they have made.

Are you the parent of a child with additional needs? How does your family make Memorial Day special?