I am no expert on the subject of Down’s Syndrome, but it is a subject near to my heart. My church has been blessed with a baby that has DS. This has brought a new awareness to our congregation and I believe we’re better people for it. In many ways.
I, for one, so newly re-immersed in blogging, have just committed to blog every day during the month of October. The project is called 31 for 21.
The goal is to raise awareness. I am glad to do what I can to help.
A few weeks ago, my friend (and the mother of the beautiful baby I mentioned – see http://www.downrightfaith.com/weblog/) led an Adult Education discussion on “Special Needs”. It was very thought provoking. During the discussion, she was challenged on the subject of prayer and healing. If an opportunity for a “cure” presented itself, would she pursue it? Should we pray for God to “fix” Sydney?
For each of us, we are challenged to be the best that we can be – or better yet, to be all that God wants us to be. Psalm 139:13-14 says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
So the best we can be is 1) as good as we were when God created us or 2) as good as God wants us to be. I do not believe that someone born with special needs is anything less than “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our creator.
And this is coming from someone who has felt the potter’s hands in recent years, and who knows what it feels like to be slammed back on the wheel for re-shaping. 🙂
Yeah Fran! Thanks for joining this effort. I am glad to see that you are blogging. I guess we need to talk more. Good thing that you are coming over today.
I had a follow up conversation with the person that brought up the question of should I pray to heal Sydney. My answer was that God made her who she is and I am fine with that. I pray for her health in general and that this world will be kind, loving and gracious to her and see her for who she is, not just Down syndrome. I also said that God gave her a GIFT in her DS that affects her view of the world. She will KNOW God and LOVE others in a way that I will never be capable of. Why? Because the world will not get into her way like it has in mine. God gave her that gift and who am I to ask to take that away from her? What God has called me and everyone else to do is “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (Thes 5:11) I am thankful that you are someone who sees Sydney as she is, God’s gift to our family. Love you!!!
Thank you for your response, and for letting me know about your follow-up conversation.
And thank you for letting me visit today!