Make Decisions with Confidence Did you know that the popular thought these days is that adults make an average of 35,000 decisions every day? How crazy is that? 35,000! We have never counted how many decisions we actually make each day, but we can testify that some days it seems like way more than we have the energy and brain space to make. How about you? We all have the usual decisions like what to wear, what to make for meals, whether to eat breakfast or not, which route to take to work or to the kids’ school, what to...
CREATE a sense of BELONGING at your Event or in your Group Does the word, “belong”, conjure up positive warm-fuzzy feelings for you or does it make your heart sink? Maybe it does a little of both? Most people have felt like an outsider at some time in their lives. It doesn’t feel good, does it? You, as a parent, a ministry leader or volunteer, a member of any group affected in some way by disability have an opportunity to help others have a positive experience in belonging. Human beings were made to be in community. So often, though, when...
Dear Ministry Leaders, What a wonderful opportunity you have to create a welcoming place for children and their parents as well as the volunteers who serve them. The only problem is – people are involved. Grin. Seriously, we know that you have a very tough job. Serve the Children. Love the Families. Guide the Volunteers. Sounds simple in words, right? Implementing is a whole different picture. There are so many factors that go into creating vibrant ministry for children. God’s Word needs to be presented consistently, truthfully, and enthusiastically. It is vital that you keep the children physically safe. You...
Stop. Assess. Build. Recently, I have become aware of three specific mamas who have experienced utter physical depletion and I know that there are many, many more. What do I mean by depletion? They have very little left within them to take care of the things of daily living. These are moms who have given everything they’ve got to and for their families without focusing on their own basic care on a consistent basis. (No judgment.) These are moms who have at least one child with special needs and whose needs are often unique, constant, exhausting, puzzling, and endless. These...
By Julie Meekins December is just around the corner. Does knowing that put you in a panic? Do you already feel a growing sense of being swamped? December can be so lovely – a month filled with beautiful decorations, sweet music, joyful celebrations, adorable children’s concerts, fun gift-giving, church Christmas pageants, family togetherness — the stuff of life-long sweet memories. Unfortunately, December can also be a trying time for families. We tend to attempt to cram in more projects than is humanly possible, overschedule both our children and ourselves, eat poorly, and take too little time to rest. All of...
Tom and Julie Meekins A number of years ago, it became apparent to us that we and other parents whose children are impacted by disability needed a support group. We went to our church leaders to get the green light, which they gave readily. We have been at this for 6 years now and have learned a few things that may be helpful to you if you already have a parent support group and are looking for fresh ideas or if you are hoping to start one up. Our first suggestion is that you work with who you have in...
Friend, do you need an encouraging word? Are you needing to be reminded that you have a Resource beyond all resources? We do. Whether you are a parent or a ministry leader or volunteer (or maybe you fill all of those roles at some time or another as we do) you can STAND strong – even when you don’t feel it. Why? …because our strength comes from the Lord. He tells us this in Exodus: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s...
[Amy Meekins is the author of this month’s blog post. She is also the author of the book, “Heart ReCharge Devotionals.” Check out her website at HeartReCHARGE.com.] ********** What If? Have you ever wondered what life would have been like if you could change just one thing? I wonder what it would be like if I was born in New York or California instead of Maryland, or if I were born in a different decade? Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if I were born in 2001, or 1971, or 1930, or 1912, or the 1800’s, or…...
Considerations for: Parents/Caregivers, Potential Individual Respite Providers, and Churches What do you think of when you see the word respite? If you are a caregiver, it might trigger a desire and a hope for a break so that you can rest and restore and rejuvenate. Many caregivers do not have adequate breaks to reset because the needs of their loved one with disabilities are constant and there is no one who is available to step in. There are many different ways that respite can be provided to caregivers. It can be as complicated or as simple as both parties (the...
How to Grab a Minute I am writing to you – the special needs/disability community, so I know that we all feel this. There isn’t enough time. As parents/caregivers to those affected by disability, we wish we had more time. Maybe you wish you had more time to reset. Maybe you wish you had more time to play with and simply focus on enjoying your child. Maybe you wish you had more time to support a friend. Maybe you wish you had more time to encourage your husband or wife. Maybe you wish you had more time to love on...
