𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯
We are now in the Easter season in the Church.
He is risen. Death is defeated.
As Christians, our attitude toward death should be marked by assurance. But faith does not erase the realities of life.
One of the realities that is “in your face” when you are a parent of a child with special needs is your own mortality. I have two kids with special needs. And to be honest, these two realities—the promise and my own mortality – weigh heavily on me.
My wife Beth and I have had this conversation many times: we need to live as long as we functionally can, so we can care for our children for as long as possible before that responsibility eventually shifts to our daughter.
Ang sakit nun! Yung shifting the responsibility part. I want my daughter to live the life she chooses for herself—where she wants, with whom she wants to be, and carry only the responsibilities that are of her own making.
So there lies the tension.
We know God’s promises, mercy and love. But deep inside, we wrestle. There’s that familiar joke we hear from priests at least once a year:
“Sino ang may gusto mapunta sa Langit? Taas Kamay.
Everyone raises their hand.
“Sino ang gusto mapunta sa langit ngayon?”
No hand goes up.
Nakakatawa pa rin hangang ngayon ang joke na ito. We all long for heaven, but not yet. And for parents of children with special needs ang joke na ito ay ang aming reality.
Because while we believe that death is rest in God, but our passing means leaving behind children who may always need us. Parang ang unfair!
Sometimes, I am tempted to ask God for an exchange na kung pwedeng yung salvation ko palit sa pagkagaling ng anak ko. But I also know that God’s mercy doesn’t work that way.
And if you are one of us, I want to say this:
God sees and loves us. He will make Holy our fears and struggles. Our fears are sacred in Him. He knows this is not an easy surrender.
Hindi man natin fully ma-appreciate ang resurrection, but it’s a gift already available for us.
#GOTO #GodOfTheOrdinary
#WFALoveConnects
