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verse is Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." We may not understand God's plans, but we can take comfort that God knows our pain and is doing what is best for us. Q: You've shared that your children have taught you how to love unconditionally and how to rest well. What does it look like to rest well while seek- ing to love unconditionally? Have you any practical tips or examples—especially for new parents or the parents of kids with special needs? A: Visit this page on my website: runhardrestwell .org /2020-vision-covid-19/. The section titled "Parents" has four articles you can peek at. Here's an excerpt from one, entitled "Mom's Guide to Sabbath Rest": Find a body—any BODY warm enough and safe enough to keep your kids from "broken bones, blood, fire and flood" and then run. RUN! Far away if necessary. Sometimes I just hid in a bedroom or on the front porch, but I often slipped out of the house to a "quieter" corner somewhere close to home . . . Dairy Queen, coffee shop, a park or a friend's back porch. And once there, I reminded myself to breathe. One hour. Two. Sometimes three. It was a weekly gift, a treasure beyond compare. How? If you have a willing spouse, tag team! That's what Tim and I did. If you have an amiable neighbor or grandparent—ask! If you have a friend with small children, swap "kid care" every other week for each other. Hands down, this weekly (or bi-monthly) get- away was my sanity. I knew I had two hours of calm and quiet coming my way every Sunday. For 120 minutes, I did not have to poke, prod or produce anything for any- one. I was off the hook, free—momentarily—of all responsibility. Q: You and your husband always knew you want- ed to adopt—and you've adopted three children! Please share your heart for adoption and perhaps an exhortation to the Church about caring for kids without parents. A: Allow the things that break the heart of God to break our hearts, O Lord. That's our prayer. There are 107,918 children and teens waiting to be adopted in the US. I can't write this without my eyes stinging with tears. To be unwanted is a crushing blow. We can never be guilted into adoption, but we must position ourselves to listen well. We don't want to miss the call if Jesus is calling. If He does not call, be quick, available, and open to support families who adopt high-needs kiddos. It is a full-time job and then some. Biggest on the list: provide meals and help with shop- ping or respite care. Tim and I often say our crew keeps us on our knees and on our toes. We still have three young adults at home full-time. Parenting high-needs children is the hardest, holiest work God has given us to do, but it keeps us surrendered and reliant. There is no other way. w Amy Bird is a child of God and wife of Aaron. She holds an MA in systematic theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. John D. Eckrich, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist and founded Grace Place Wellness Ministries, a retreat-based RSO designed to inspire healthy lives in LCMS professional church workers and their families. Brian Davies serves as pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, Illinois. He is chaplain for the Grayslake Fire Department, author, husband to Beth, and dad to Kate, Megan, and Luke. Rev. Mark R. Kiessling serves as the director of LCMS Youth Ministry. In that role, he supports the leadership, service, resourcing, and networking functions of LCMS Youth Ministry. About This Issue's Authors Lutheran Life 29

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