Love Conquers All

In short: A fellow autism mom posted about before she realized her child had autism a church she attended denied her child to attend the children’s ministry because they didn’t have someone extra to meet the child’s needs. She was offended because she didn’t even know he had autism at that time.
Before we start I understand if someone is going to be harmed or something else very serious were to happen then I can see where a staff can not provide services. This child was not that.

I’ve been a part of serving in Children’s ministry as an adult for 5 years even though I have taken off the past few months to focus on my family. It’s a big part of whom I am and Gods calling for me. I’ve been a part of the church for about 8 years when Ryan and I wanted to find a church to raise our family in.

I’ve not ever felt so welcomed and loved by another community as much as our church from day one. I started serving when my daughter turned a year old because I wanted to be a part of a ministry who knew the kids in their class by name and made the parents feel comfortable leaving their child in our care while getting their spiritual food.

There have been more children in my class with special needs than I can count. Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, autoimmune disorders, hearing aids with a microphone to talk into to communicate with them, leg braces and a walker. You name it. I wasn’t “qualified” with much special needs education, but I was qualified in LOVE. That’s right LOVE was what I knew to do and that’s what it took. Loving them and making them feel safe. I remember a non-verbal 2-year old who was not happy to be left by her parents gave me a hug and looked right into my eyes with a big smile before she was picked up. It still makes me want to cry and that was years ago. She said so much more with that hug and smile than words ever could.

These children changed my life for the better. I grew relationships with these families and made them feel safe to know I was going to love their kids through that hour.
When Kellan regressed I wouldn’t have been the mom I needed to be without those kids, their warrior parents, or our church. Your kids changed my life for the better. They have worth, they are not a burden, they are world changers!

I thank God he has given me the opportunity to serve these families and to be served by the best church family.

Thank you to all who have been a part of our ups and downs. Who have set down on the classroom floor and prayed over our family. Those who have made us feel safe to leave our non-verbal child with. We can’t do it without you.

We need the diversity in our lives, classrooms, workspace, and so on to make us better people and to know there are other ways to live life than just our own. We don’t have to look the same or act the same to LOVE.