Mamas and Children with Special Needs

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My heart is with mamas of children who need even more help than most children do. Sometimes their caregiving continues for the rest of their lives. Ray and I know a set of parents who moved to a faraway state where they could get more help for their child with special needs. In a recent conversation with the child’s grandmother, she told us that the child’s younger siblings have now graduated and gone to college. At a time when many parents would be experiencing the joys (and challenges) of an empty nest, this child’s parents continue with 24-hour care of their firstborn. They are committed to caring for their child themselves. Of course, they love this now-young adult child deeply, but the reality of the intense care needed is still difficult.

On a recent trip to a doctor’s appointment with Ray, I saw three heroines within the first fifteen minutes after we got near the front door. In the parking lot, I noticed a woman who had just pulled a wheelchair out of the trunk of her car and was putting a cushion in the seat, while a frail elderly lady, whom I assume was her mother, sat waiting in the passenger seat.

Ray isn’t an invalid by any means, but because he has been unable to have any exertion for many weeks, I have been doing many tasks that he was doing before and that we both hope he will soon be doing again. Ray thanks me over and over again, but I know that is not true for many, many people. “Thank you for being a good caregiver,” I told the lady who was standing near her trunk.

When we got near the check-in desk, I saw a haggard-looking woman of many years walking in front of us. She was wearing a back brace on the outside of her top. Even her hairstyle seemed to communicate: this is simply the best I can do. Near the desk, I heard her say to a staff member: “I’m not the patient. It’s my husband.” I could certainly see why he had mistaken her for the patient.

Ray was scheduled for a pulmonary function test (which turned out amazingly well, praise God!). Just as we arrived, I saw a young woman emerge from the testing area. A staff member was guiding her as she entered the waiting room because the young woman was blind. As I took in the scene, feeling sympathy for this blind girl who needed pulmonary testing, a woman just the age to be her mother joined her. The young woman took the older woman’s elbow, and they walked away.

Mother. Husband. Daughter. Anyone in our families can suddenly need our help for an extended time, or they can need our help decade after decade. One of the blessings of being around medical offices this year is seeing the faithful caregivers.

My message today is a simple one. Thank you, all your precious, tired, sacrificing caregivers. You are heroines. Thank you for serving the Lord Christ this way.

Always Welcome, from “Illustrated London News,” May 19, 1888.
Original artwork by Laura Alma-Tadema,
engraved by William Biscombe Gardner.
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Donato Esposito, 2019.

Wondering how to illustrate these thoughts, I searched for “sick bed” in the public domain images at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I know it isn’t ideal for today’s message, but I love its message. Little girls can be heroines, too.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily,
as for the Lord rather than for men, 
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23-24

Please note: I wrote this post on Sunday, July 23. I have written several posts ahead of time in preparation for Ray’s surgery on the 25th and his recovery time at home. I plan to send reports about Ray to Bonnie, one of our Notgrass History team members, so she can add updates about his progress to those posts from time to time. Thank you for all of your prayers.

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Here is an update on Ray’s progress from Charlene.

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