The Gifts in the Challenge
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2
…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. II Peter 1:5-7
Today is a special day in our family, the thirty-first birthday of our youngest daughter. She has brought significant challenges as well as solid gifts to our family. We were told within a few minutes of her birth that there would be challenges because she had Down Syndrome.
As I reflect on our life together these thirty-one years, there have indeed been challenges—many days of not-knowing, of increased demands for time and energy, of guilt for offering the older children scraps of time and attention. There were struggles to regain our footing as parents and family. There have been ongoing challenges in finding the resources needed to help her thrive. There are additional concerns involved in providing for her long-term needs. The challenges have been a persistent part of our lives together from day one.
Facing these challenges from a foundation of faith, however, has also brought many gifts.
The gift of inspiration: having a family member with a disability often is an inspiration to follow a career path that addresses challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
The gift of re-ordered priorities: challenges are opportunities to review one’s values and re-assign importance.
The gift of being: character can be refined through the fire of trials, impacting the person we are.
The gift of belonging: community is built as we rally around one another during times of trial.
The gift of acceptance: living with a person with disabilities teaches us that everyone has some type of disability, we are all more alike than different. Focusing on the similarities bridges the divide of differences and allows us to see each other as people rather than as a label.
The gift of love: energy, spark, ready forgiveness, empathy, kindness, and love reciprocated—we celebrate these on her thirty-first birthday. What a bountiful gift she is!
What gifts are in the challenges you face?