Special Needs

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  Due to oxygen deprivation during the birth process, our 7th child, Ethan, has cerebral palsy, microcephaly, epilepsy, sensory processing disorder, impaired vision, and a host of other special needs. Neither my husband nor I had ever had occasion for close contact with a handicapped person. Ethan has opened up a whole new world to us...one I'm glad I didn't miss. We have addressed his various special needs, the most natural and unobtrusive way we know how; and, daily carry out those methods as patiently as we know how. His care is exhausting, yet exhilarating; discouraging, yet hopeful; frightening (especially to parents over 50), yet faith-building.
  Ethan gives me much time to ponder, and much to ponder about. Recently, it occurred to me that he isn't the only one with special needs. In fact, the folks we generally think of as being handicapped or disabled, aren't the only ones with special needs. I believe that every single one of us requires the same gentle, patient, loving care, consideration and compassion that we would give to someone in a wheelchair, or with a seeing-eye dog.
  Not all "handicaps" are readily visible to others. We have a 22 year old son, home from a year in service in Iraq, whose disabilities are not immediately evident. Yet, he has sustained much damage: emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. There are many like him, returning to a society that is largely ignorant of how to help them.
  As those of us we deem "normal" or "whole" carry on though the duties of "regular" life, we do so in spite of our own peculiar, special needs. Each of us knows what our weaknesses and shortcomings are - those things about ourselves that we must overcome in order to survive. And, we expect others to excuse us. But, how ready are we to wonder compassionately about our neighbor who seems neglectful or offensive, or the motorist who seems reckless and impatient, or the stranger that stares rudely, etc, ETC.??? They have special needs, too! Who knows what crisis they may be facing, or pain they may be enduring? My appeal to myself and my readers is to give the same "benefit of the doubt" to others that we want for ourselves. Everyone has heard the quote: "Life is fragile, Handle with prayer." I'll add James' words here from Chapter 5: "Do not complain, brethren, against one another...the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful....Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray...and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up...Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."