Birthday Surprises
Posted in Daily Focus on Monday, May 19, 2014
"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalm 127:3).
My birthday present came early the year I turned 25. The afternoon before my birthday, God gave me the gift of a new baby boy. Like all pregnancies that go past their due date, I worried about the new life inside me. However, when my son was finally born, there was no doubt he was healthy and strong. With a full head of red hair, a ruddy appearance, and weighing in at 9 pounds and 15 ounces, my bouncing baby boy looked like a tough outdoorsman as he greeted me with a smile.
Parenting this "easy keeper" was fun right from the start. My son slept, ate, and played exactly the way a mother would want. As he grew, he was ever the complacent child and never demanded or drew attention to himself. Humble in heart, he approached life with an inquisitive mind and sensitive spirit. As we homeschooled, my son was active, observant, and creative, and I knew his life was going to be different. John the Baptist was his biblical mentor, and like John, my son was happiest serving God while living in the great outdoors.
Twenty-five years later on my 50th birthday, my outdoorsy, archeologist son surprised me with another blessing. He bought me a new pair of durable hiking sandals, so I could accompany him on the mountain trail near his home. Crying, I read his words of love and the Bible verse he picked just for me: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth" (Isaiah 52:7)! Birthday surprises never cease! Praise God for His glorious gift of children!
Father, I lift my heart in praise to You for the wonderful blessings of children. Thank You for the privilege of being a parent and knowing the joys of a child's love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments(7 comments)
PATTI C 05/19/2009 04:04:37
What a blessing! My one son fits this child's description. All the others love baseball, etc...but since he could walk, Nate loved to be in the woods and creek discovering all of the amazing creatures and living things God made. Children are so different, and thankfullyso!
Jody F 05/19/2010 08:30:46
Our lives are indeed like a vapor, we have no idea the values our children learn from us each day. It is a joy to homeschool even though it is a constant struggle. I know that very soon they will leave and our home will be silent and void of their laughter. May God bless each day that we have and help us to instill in them all that He has for them. My own son stuggles daily with Asperbers Syndrome and the problems it brings. I pray that God has a special place for him doing His work until He returhs for us.
KATH H 05/19/2011 04:43:36
What a wonderful testimony to your son's upbringing...We all need to aim for God's best for our children...there is no formula, just God's wonderful plan for each of his children. Bless you for your ministry of encouragement to homeschoolers. From a homeschooling mum in a remote Australian Aboriginal community.
KATHY S 05/19/2012 05:57:06
My son also has Aspbergers. I too often wonder what God has planned for him, but I know it\'s something special for Jesus.
When I read the Authors devotional today (I was happy for her,) But, I thought to myself. My son was born 9lbs 2 1/2 ounces, under duress, he cried for the first 2 years constantly. I slept about 4 hours a day, usually stting up. We had 4 different therapists coming 7 times a week to help him, we were always at the Pediatrician. I could not understand any of it.
My son, now 13, was diagnosed with Aspbergers 2 years ago, which explained most of it.
Although the first many years were so perplexing to me, I now too have the most Wonderful son anyone could ask for. He is the most patient and loving child in the world (to me anyway).
I can say this for sure, Homeschooling made the difference for my son, he loves it so much, I see a happiness in him that I never saw when he was in school, he has peace and is so thankful that he is homeschooled.
And you\'re right, time goes so quickly, we really must try and enjoy every single second of it!
TABITHA J 05/21/2012 08:50:20
I was diganosed with Asperger\'s (there is no b in it) when I was 23 and because there is a chance that one of my children could have it, it is one of the reasons why I want to homeschool my children.
KATHY S 05/21/2012 20:08:09
Sorry about the \"b\". I still don\'t even understand it all completley.
But, I will say that homeschool has made a world of difference. The Public and Catholic schools my son attended, were Brutal.
And once the staff at the school was informed he had aspergers, they sluffed off everything that happened to my son, as in my son\'s \"Imagination\". Even though Inhad photo\'s of \"bite marks\" on my sons hands, and the Dr had seen the bruise on his head after being punched. And my son is over 6ft 1 in tall, about 180lbs, you would think size alone would scare the kids away, it didn;t, they prayed on his innocence and gentle disposition.
shelly king 05/19/2014 12:39:20
These comments of children being homeschooled who have diagnoses pricked my heart to write. I am a former homeschooling mom with children of special needs. My oldest, now 29, struggled even at a Christian school when he started. Three of my four children struggled mightily throughout childhood. Homeschooling and raising them in The Lord is the ONLY way to help our children because Satan wants to " sift " them to win. It is a daunting challenge, but bathing yourself and them daily in a spirit of prayer produces incredible fruit! He will overcome mental illness and bring healing! God uses the simple to confound the "wise". Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Don't give up! He is faithful. I have seen miracle after miracle in my children's lives, including healing!!! Believe God, He has a plan for your child!