let's pray together for special-needs siblings

<<First Name>>, I'm so glad you're joining me as we pray for the typical kids in our homes over the next two weeks. I know we're all adjusting to the restrictions we're under due to the corona virus. But as I prayed about what God would do in my life during this season, I noticed how much more of my attention my son James was getting compared to my son David. That's when I knew it would be a great time to focus my prayers on David. In this email, I'll tell you more about the family I grew up in, my family now, and share the format we'll follow in the coming days!

My big sister was born in 1977. My parents didn't know until after she was born that she had Down syndrome. The doctors encouraged them to have another child quickly. So fourteen short months later, I was born. We did everything together in those early years. We learned to walk together, we potty trained together, and we learned to talk together. It didn't take long for me to notice she was different from me, not just in looks, but in the way she struggled to say my name (the s sound is tough!).

I'll share more stories about our life growing up together, but today I just want to share what a blessing she is in my life. I wouldn't be who I am if she weren't my sister.

It's because of my experiences growing up as "Syble's sister" (as I was often called by people who didn't know my name but certainly knew her) that I'm able to help guide my son David as he grows up with a younger brother with level 3 autism. And I can guide you through our prayer time together!

Each morning for the next two weeks you'll get an email with

a focus verse
a prayer based on the focus verse
a short devotional
a discussion question or activity you can do together based on your child’s current stage of development

Together we will lift up the kids/teens/young adults in our homes who sometimes go unnoticed. And I'm praying that through this time our relationship with them will grow stronger.

Here's today's prayer ...

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12)

When David was just a baby, I wanted a passage to pray over him as he grew. I didn't know what our lives would be like. I certainly didn't know he'd become a special-needs sibling. I didn't know he would be an actor, have dyslexia, or grow taller than me by his 12th birthday. What I did know was that God already knew him well. He knew the number of hairs on his head and the freckles on his face (that fade more and more each year).

So from the day I meet him, I prayed this passage for him. I wanted David to ...

be filled with knowledge of His will
walk in a manner worthy
fully please Him
bear fruit in every good work
increase in the knowledge of God
be strengthened
give thanks

This passage guides my prayers for him, and as we pray over the next two weeks, other verses and passage will guide our prayers as well. I hope you'll connect to one like I've connected to this passage and continue with the habit we will establish.

Join me this morning in praying these words for the typical children in your family: God, all of my children are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have a purpose for each one of them. Today I lift up ______ to you. You have called him/her to the role of special-needs sibling. I trust that you have a purpose for that role in his/her life just like you have a purpose for my role as their parent. Today I'm specifically praying you will guide him/her as they walk in a manner that's worthy of You. I want him/her to be filled with knowledge of Your will and increase in knowledge of You. I pray he/she will bear fruit with endurance, patience, and joy. Help him/her give You thanks in all things! In Jesus's name, amen.

<<First Name>>, in addition to our prayer each day, I'll be sharing a discussion question or an activity for you to do with the typical kids in your family. They will be based on the stages of development I believe special-needs siblings go through. Today, take a minute to read about the stages of development at the link below.

Read More about the Stages of Development

Thanks for joining me today! I'm praying for you and your entire family! I look forward to all God will do through our time together.

P.S. If this is the first time we've met, you may not know I have a podcast that releases each Monday. You can search for "Self Care and Soul Care for the Caregiver" in your favorite podcast app to listen to today's episode on how to reset a bad day and recover after a meltdown.

Copyright © 2020 Sandra Peoples, All rights reserved.

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Alvin, TX 77511

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