Summer Vacation
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, here with my friend and co-worker Shauna Amick.
SHAUNA: Hi there, Joni.
JONI: Good to have you in studio today, Shauna, and I don’t know about you, but I am blessed beyond belief by this coming change of seasons. How about you?
SHAUNA: Oh, I love it!
JONI: I love the feel of the air and a new season brings what? A child’s favorite time of year; the beginning of a new school year.
SHAUNA: That’s right.
JONI: I don’t know about you, but I remember the days feeling sorry that summer vacation is over but anticipating great things that lay ahead in the school. How about school times around your house?
SHAUNA: Well as you know, school time around our house is a wonderful time of year. Everyone is ready to get back to a consistent schedule and I know that you are aware of this, Joni; but summer vacation can be a real time of overwhelming stress for families affected by disability because children, like my daughter Sarah, they need that constant, consistent schedule otherwise it throws their whole outlook off.
JONI: You’re so right about that. I have to ask you, how have you dealt with planning for summer vacation with Sarah? She’s got Down syndrome, speech delays and behavioral issues—you’ve got to run out of ideas on how to care for her over the summer.
SHAUNA: Well I do and that happens fast! In fact, it was funny, just the other day I was behind a car that had this unique bumper sticker that said, “I have no idea what I’m doing” and it really made me laugh out loud right there in traffic because on so many days, Joni that’s exactly how I feel. God reminded me of Jeremiah 33:3 where the Lord tells us, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
JONI: Well that’s a great verse for any special needs parent wondering how to organize special needs kid’s summer vacation.
SHAUNA: Well that’s for sure! You know parenting is hard, period! Parenting children with special needs is even harder. So many decisions we have to make (and you know this Joni), medical decisions, decisions about therapies, about care-givers, about behavioral plans…
SHAUNA: Everything. And so often I am tempted to just throw up my hands and say, “I give up Lord! I have no idea what to do!” But that’s when I go back to Jeremiah 33:3 because I always know what to do. Right? We call on the name of the Lord! We go to Him in scripture, we call out to Him in prayer, and we know He will answer. That’s His promise to us, Joni! We always know what to do. That’s such a huge comfort to me; it’s what I rely on in all of my decisions.
JONI: Well that’s good to know because sometimes you are forced to go to that verse and many more, aren’t you?
SHAUNA: Every day.
JONI: And the special needs, I don’t know, challenges in your own family require that.
SHAUNA: There are so many days I just want to cry out to God, “I give up! I have no idea what to do. Not just with Sarah, but with my two older children who don’t have disabilities, but need me just as much. In my marriage, which I can’t ignore or else the whole family is going to fall apart.
JONI: Absolutely.
SHAUNA: There are so many decisions, so many aspects of family life and I need to go to Jesus and find out His plan for every one of them.
JONI: In a way, Sarah’s disability is a good thing for your family; it’s good for your spiritual life.
SHAUNA: Oh my goodness, because of Sarah’s disability I know the Word like I never would have otherwise.
JONI: Wow! Friend listening I hope the promise of Jeremiah 33:3 gives you hope today. Because no matter what you’re circumstances you could feel like: “I have no idea where I’m going.” But whether you’re the parent of a disabled child or you’re just faced with a tough decision today concerning work, or your finances or your health, like Shauna said, call to Jesus and He will give you the clarity you need because He cares! Because He is good on His word in Jeremiah Chapter 33.
SHAUNA: That’s right, Joni. And friend, remember go to joniandfriends.org where you are going to find great encouragement for today and for every season.
JONI: God bless you Shauna. Thanks for being with us.
SHAUNA: Thank you, Joni.
© Joni and Friends
