Grateful Tears

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Three years ago, every Sunday, our family of six piled into our minivan and headed to church. My husband and I taught the 3rd-5th grade class while our kids went to their classes. When it was time for the worship service, the sounds of guitars, pianos, drums, and the voices of harmonies and melodies filled the auditorium. At these sounds, our youngest son would cringe and hold his ears in pain. We tried headphones, picture books, and sensory toys to help him muffle the sounds and sensations, but nothing seemed to make a difference. Corporate worship became a time of frustration. As much as I wanted to stay and sing praises to the Lord, I couldn’t help our son settle or even tolerate it.

At that point, our son and I started our new rhythm of Mama, son, and Jesus’ time at home. Once small groups were over, I took our preschool-aged child home while my husband and three older kids stayed for worship and the message. My son and I listened to kids’ praise songs on RightNow Media at a low volume and read from the Jesus Storybook Bible.

Week after week, month after month, our new normal for Sunday mornings continued. We made it work as best we could. Would this be our Sunday routine forever? Would our child ever be able to handle worship services? At the time, we didn’t know much about sensory processing or attention deficit challenges. As a general education teacher, these topics were brushed over in my college classes and weren’t a focus in the professional development sessions I attended.

Flash forward three years later with intense research, occupational therapy, doctor’s appointments, forward-thinking teachers, supportive extended family members, and our son, has made remarkable growth.

For the past two months, he now walks eagerly into our church auditorium. His uncomfortableness with music and reverberating sounds have been transformed into curious, soul-asking questions about what the songs mean while singing along in perfect pitch.

Now, when it’s time to worship, I wrap my arms around him, and we hold each other close as we sing song after song. Through each lyric, I praise the Lord for the beautiful ways He has connected our son’s sensory and attention systems. Tears glisten my eyes, and my heart feels like it might explode with gratitude.

Friend, through this journey, the Lord has taught me that when He answers our prayers, He creates in us a depth of gratitude we might not have experienced otherwise. I now know what it means to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18 NIV.

I hope my eyes always glisten with grateful tears while I sing praise to the Lord with our son. The change that has taken place inside of him since June is truly incredible. He’s our walking miracle.

Friend, no matter the season or details, don’t stop researching, exploring, and believing. The Lord has remarkably and wonderfully made each of our children and has a beautifully unique plan for each one.

Please reach out to let me know how I can join you in praying for your remarkable children, too.

Cheering for you and your unique child,

Kallie

*This post was originally shared on The Round Farmhouse Ministries Facebook and Instagram accounts on November 22. If you want to read more encouraging words like this, check out their social media accounts!