Last night was blessing night for our “Faith Decisions” group (eighth graders and their parents). Eyes got more moist as the evening wore on.
It’s such a powerful thing to hear mothers and fathers speak words of blessing to their kids.
In Diane’s blessing to Chris, she said something I’d forgotten. We were a little worried about how Megan (our mentally handicapped daughter) would be around a baby. So her teachers at school prepared her by teaching her to pat a kitten. She was very gentle with her little brother when he was born. He received some wonderful patting!
I feel like I learned so much about these families last night. I heard words of profound love and deep faith.
I have a grandson,Noah, who has Down Syndrome. That teaching to pat an animal is something that my daughter has done for a long time. Noah is a big child who doesn’t know his own strength. I love it when he pats me and strokes my face so lovingly.
What grace in this post … and in the first comment … Gentleness is a gift of the Spirit … and we need more of it. I’m sure that we all could benefit from learning to be more cautious with each other. God’s blessings to you all.
Instead of ‘cautious’ maybe ‘careful with the other person’s heart’ would have been better.
Mike, the first thing I thought of when you said, “he received some wonderful patting” was -
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
Megan was certainly used by God!
Chris will certainly be a wonderful ‘patter’ himself.
Chris will certainly be a wonderful ‘patter’ himself.
Oh, yeah! And in a month or so he’ll be able to show that skill with his new baby niece. Yay!!
Sounds like an incredible experience.