Parenting a Child with Special Need, An Opportunity to See God's Perfection

If you could, would you choose parenting a child with special need ... I don’t think most people would even want to answer the question.

The reality is that special needs kids sometimes make you wonder where God is, and why God would create kids with so many problems who have to endure such intense struggle just to survive and fit in.

But when you look closer, you find a tremendous opportunity to see God’s perfection. God uses these special kids as the perfect chance for others to show what is truly good and right in each of us.

Now, That's Perfection......

I recently read a story about a man who had a developmentally disabled son named Billy. He was indeed parenting a child with special need. This man was walking with his son when they came upon a ball game where lots of neighborhood boys were playing. Billy asked, “Dad, do you think I could play?”

As the game continued, the two teams found themselves in a tie. It was the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and there was a runner on third base. And the next batter was Billy. Now, the man really wondered whether they would really let Billy bat considering the importance of the next batter. He wondered how he would explain to Billy why they didn’t let him bat. Much to his surprise they called Billy’s name and up to bat he went.Billy had never batted before and it was pretty obvious to everyone so the pitcher stepped closer to the plate and threw the ball softly to give Billy a chance to hit it. Billy swung the bat but wasn’t even close. When the boy who let Billy in the game saw what was happening he got behind Billy and helped him hold the bat so Billy could hit the ball.

Well, Billy did hit the ball but it barely made it back to the pitcher. It was obvious that the pitcher could easily throw him out at first base but instead he threw the ball into the outfield way past the fielder and he shouted to Billy to “Run to first!” When the outfielder saw what the pitcher did, he threw the ball way over the second baseman’s head and shouted, “Billy, run to second!” Billy ran for all he was worth.

The fielders continued to throw the ball so Billy could keep running. It was an amazing thing to see the players from BOTH teams yelling for Billy to keep running. When Billy reached home plate, the players from both teams all cheered for Billy and lifted him onto their shoulders. They made him the hero of the game.

As the man watched, there were tears in his eyes. Not only did he see his son feel victory unlike any he had ever experienced, he saw God’s perfection in those boys. He saw parenting a child with special need as a rare and special gift.

Parenting a child with special need will never be easy, but I don’t think we, as parents, will ever see bigger victories, more special acts of kindness, or God’s Perfection more clearly than in the people who seize every opportunity to be light for our kids.

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