Psalm 139:13,14 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. (NIV)
The older that I get, the clearer my perspective becomes on how God formed each of us, especially my daughter with her “special heart” as we called it in our family. She has what is called ventricular inversion, so technically the left ventricle of her heart that pumps the blood to the body is on the right side of her heart and her right ventricle that pumps blood to the lungs is on the left side. Even though this a rare defect, God never allowed my daughter or us to really focus on that word, defect. It is and has always been a unique part of her that has shaped not only her life but also that of our family.
The above passage reminds us of how intimately God has known us from the time that he formed us. It also encourages us with the reminder that our Creator sees all of us as “fearfully and wonderfully made.” This broken world very often likes to tell us what’s wrong with us. Especially with the explosion of social media, people are constantly comparing themselves to one another and trying to figure out how they measure up to everyone else.
If you are a parent of a child with disabilities or major medical problems, remember that your child is still “wonderfully made”—that all children are made with God’s special love and with purposes for their lives. They each have abilities and gifts that they can offer the world. Many times, we as parents are the first ones to see this in our children. Helping our society see these same talents and gifts in our kids becomes a big part of our job. (Medical professionals, therapists, and teachers can help with this as well.)
My daughter is now able to use her history at Texas and Seattle Children's Hospitals as motivation to pursue a career in occupational therapy and work with children. God provides her with an understanding not only of struggling but also of overcoming and being successful, which helps her work with clients and parents.
Thank you for letting me share some of my story with you. I hope it is encouraging to you. Just know that during the daily struggles, we can find comfort in these words, “Your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” Not only can we find comfort in his eternal love, but also his workmanship, which is wonderful—or, as I like to say, awesome!
Dear Lord, you are an awesome God and Creator of wonderful things! Even though this sinful world likes to chip away at the value of individuals with disabilities and severe medical challenges, help us parents see beyond this and look at the unique gifts and talents that you have given our children. All of us are here to serve your divine purpose and someday enjoy the eternal rewards of heaven. Continue to provide us with a daily dose of peace and strength that only you can provide. Amen.
by Pam Schleg