Where much is given much is required

Not to beat a dead horse here, but I was doing some "deep" thinking in the midst of another Hayls meltdown. I was thinking of more reasons why we have been given the awesome and often overwhelming responsibility of parenting a bi-polar child. The answers that came to me while dodging flying feet were not all that difficult to understand. The first answer is because we can! It doesn't get any simpler than that answer. God with that infinite wisdom He wields sees that Steph and I possess the skills and patience to parent this unique child. The second reason is that we care and understand. Here again God sees that we have seen the result of what can occur when a special needs child is not properly provided for in this life. I wonder how much of youth violence either by youth or adult to youth is the result of unchecked mental illness.

Here is the overwhelming part of what I learned during this thinking session, God thought our daughter was so special and important that He sent her to us for special keeping and raising. With so many special needs children being given to parents that either do not understand or care...Hayls must be pretty special indeed

God, in all His Wisdom...

This summer has been an interesting and explosive time for our family. We have recently discovered that our daughter is afflicted with Child Onset Bi-Polar disorder. We have been given a front row seat or sometimes a spot in the ring as our daughter comes completely unglued and explosively becomes like another person. Those of you reading this post that know someone who has been diagnosed with this disease knows that this does not just go away, clear up, nor can it be cured. Our daughter and our family will deal with this for the rest of our lives. I recently have thought to myself, "Why us, God?"

As I question God, I think about all the unpredictable behavior, manic episodes, and mania to come, and I start to feel a lot of anxiety and despair. It is in the midst of this developing challenge that I can already see that I have not been injured by this, but rather I have been edified and taught about my own shortcomings and talents. I have learned that I have infinite love for this daughter that often curses me in a fit of rage. I have learned that discussing our feelings calmly and quietly can do far more benefit that raising my voice or hand in anger. I have learned that i have a lot to learn and that I need to be open and receptive to that teaching. For whatever reason, God, in all His Wisdom, has decided that this struggle we now face is the best way to teach us about love, compassion, and wisdom.

I think I ought to go pray...

Going forward...

I figured with all the blogging going on in the family that I should restart this hobby. Previously this page has been strictly a political rant but I am going to open in up into a blog of all my thoughts and contemplations. Get ready!