Parenting a Child with Special Need, An Opportunity to See God's PerfectionChoosing parenting a child with special need is not something most people would choose willingly. But God always chooses to make something great come out of it. 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.
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?”
The man looked at his son and in his heart he knew that Billy couldn’t play very well and that the chances of the other boys letting him play were probably not very good. But Billy was insistent. So the man asked one of the boys if Billy could play. The other boy looked at Billy and said, “well, maybe we could let you play some. The game is almost over and we’re pretty far behind but I think we could probably get you in.” Billy was elated.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. 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. The BEST Christian Marriage Book
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