" for YOU formed my inward parts; YOU knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise YOU, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:13-14

Monday, February 20, 2012

Christmas 2011 Inspirational Talk

Last Sunday, our pastor delivered a wonderful message which I believe is very timely to all of us. I know that there are still many parents among us here, although thankful for the child GOD has given them, remain to have questions like "Why they were given a special child?" or "What have they done wrong?" and further worriedly asks "What will happen to my child when I'm gone?". Honestly, I do not know how to answer all these questions. This morning, I have been praying and asking the Lord, "How am I going to inspire and somehow uplift the parents of our students Lord?" With that question, God reminded me of the preaching given by our pastor last Sunday entitled Let Go! And Let's Go!, which focused on the things we need to unload so that we can easily move up. I will use the points she shared with us from that message to bring enlightenment to each of our hearts. Things we need to unload and let go so that we can each help our child with special needs: 1. Control- I know that we all love to be in control of things in our life. Certainly, because having control of our situations, we think that we will be more peaceful and happier. As parents, we also love to be in control not just of the budget in the house but also of the lives of our children. Maybe some would say "Hindi naman po teacher".. well, maybe not really..but at the back of our minds, we want to somehow have the guarantee that the lives of our children will be well when we are gone. And having a child with special needs gives us much uncertainty. We become so worried and fearful of their future of what will happen to them, where will they stay, who will take care of them or how will they eat or survive. I know of a parent who once told me, "Kung wala na ako gusto ko isama sa hukay ang anak ko"(If i'm gone, i want to bring my child with me in my grave). I was shocked, but i cannot blame that parent for saying as such. But we have to admit our limitations as human beings. Let us face the reality, that we are just humans and we in ourselves are not even sure of what tomorrow brings for us. We have to learn to let go of our control. Ika nga po "bitawan natin ang manibela and let God drive". We may not know the future of our children, but knowing and believing that our Great and Almighty GOD is the One holding the control should be an enough assurance for us. Let us always have that prayer 'LORD, be the one to maneuver my life and over the life and future of my child'. 2. Unanswered Questions- Yesterday, i had a chance to talk to a parent who said that she has been asking the LOrd, "Why me?" "Why us?" 'Why were we given a child with autism after waiting for many years?" I truly cannot answer he questions after all, i have so many questions myself.."Why don't we have a child yet?", "What have i done not to deserve a child?", and at times when i envy my batch-mates who are now working as therapists abroad and earning dollars, i would ask bitterly "Why did i become a SPED TEacher?" "Why did i put up this center for autism?"..To be honest, i did not like this job before. I have always dreamed of becoming a doctor ever since i was a child. I dreamed of working in a hospital which is why i took Physical Therapy. I cried the first time i worked as a SPED Teacher and made my first Lesson Plan for my students. But as the years went by, God wonderfully changed my heart and my perspectives. He made unique events in my life of showing to me the answers to my questions of why i became a SPED Teacher. If you will ask me now, I WILL NEVER EXCHANGE this job for any other job because for me no job can teach me patience except this...no job can teach me how to appreciate small things in life...no job can give me a hug from small kids and hug from a 21 year old boy without any form of malice. I have learned humility, i have learned to laugh, i have learned to cry because of my students... and of course from their special parents..I have learned all these things from the eyes and the lives of my students. To all our unanswered questions, let us remain trusting in the LORD because i always believe His answer will always never be too late. 3. Disappointments- Many parents cried before me in the past. I have seen them terrified and so disappointed with their child. Much worse i have heard them become disappointed to GOD for giving them a child with special needs. For them, their dreams and hopes of having a child who will become a doctor, a policeman, a lawyer, an actor, have been shattered. Like what my pastor quoted last Sunday "One disappointment is for a divine appointment". Well, if your child have become a regular child,you will not have been a part of Melchor's memory (Melchor as we all know has the capacity of recalling names and faces of people he has met over the years), you will not get to know the person seating right next to you, you will not be a part of those people who defend the cause of autism. You will just be part of those regular people who walk by and judge children with autism to be "Spoiled Brats who just throws tantrums anywhere". Yes! For you, you might think that i will never understand what you feel simply because i don't have a special child and much worse is that, i still don't have a child...But i always believe that God allows disappointments in our lives to train us to become better people..I know it is better said than done but...LET US CONTINUE TO THANK AND PRAISE OUR LORD EVEN THOUGH WE ARE EMOTIONALLY HURTING... Being disappointed...just like what my pastor shared last week is a matter of our decision...she added "Let us choose not to be disappointed because GOD is too wise and too loving and too good to commit mistakes nor do us harm". Hindi po nagkamali ang LORD na bigyan kayo ng anak na may special need (God did not commit a mistake to give you a child with special need). He loves You and He has your best interest in mind which is why He has chosen you to have a child with special needs. He loves your child which is why God has entrusted him/her to you.

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