No Longer on the Island of Disability
God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6). This looks different for each person, of course. For me, my husband, and our children… Well, we felt isolated and alone – living on the island of disability – when our third baby was diagnosed with Down syndrome. In those early days of Sarah’s life, it was hard to imagine that we would ever get off that isolated island. In truth, we even resigned ourselves to the idea of finding a loving community that would embrace us and embrace Down syndrome completely. We prepared ourselves to limp forward on the long, hard, lonely road ahead.
Little did I know that God truly had a miraculous plan all along! Today we not only praise the Lord for our sweet Sarah; we praise Him that she was created on purpose and for a heavenly purpose that could not be accomplished without that third chromosome that makes her so unique. God has set our once lonely family smack dab in the middle of a beautiful community that fully comprehends the value and beauty of all people – those with Down syndrome and those without. Tomorrow on World Down Syndrome Day, we celebrate the vital contributions that our brothers and sisters with Down syndrome make in every community, and we give three cheers to the community that is so eager to celebrate Sarah exactly as she is.
One special way Sarah will get to experience the love of Christ and Christian community is through all the excitement surrounding Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day. When our Joni and Friends family dons their silly socks in an effort to showcase the worth and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome, Sarah knows it’s not just about the socks. Rather, those socks serve as conversation starters, providing opportunities to highlight our need for one another if the body of Christ is to be healthy and whole.
Whereas I once believed being a family impacted by disability meant looking forward to a lifetime of loneliness, God has shown me that it is because we are a family impacted by disability that we can enjoy the deep blessings of true community. That’s what I call the miracle of a changed perspective. And it’s something I welcome in every aspect of life.
Are you feeling the need for the miracle of a changed perspective in your life, too? Even if your loneliness has nothing to do with disability, heartache is heartache, and Jesus is the Mender of Broken Hearts. I believe He has something to say to you through our little booklet From Fear to Hope. You can download it here. As you do, prepare yourself for the miracle of changed perspectives today!
Hear more from Shauna on the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast.
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From Fear to Hope
In this little booklet, you’ll find the touching story of Shauna and Sarah Hope Amick. As Shauna describes the journey God took her on after finding out that her daughter, Sarah, would be born with Down syndrome, a near fatal heart defect, and a slew of other genetic abnormalities – you will be inspired to move from fear to hope in whatever difficult circumstances you are facing today. Get your free copy and prepare to be blessed by the miracle of changed perspectives!
