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For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Eph. 2:10
One of my favorite topics to write and speak about is the 5 phases of special-needs parenting. We start out thinking we've detoured off the plan we had for our lives, but we realize it's been part of God's plan all along. And by the time we get to phase 5, we're ready to reach out to others and make a difference. 

This is true in siblings' lives as well. Long ago, God laid out a plan for their lives that includes being a special-needs sibling. In fact, it was a necessary part in order to fulfill their calling. We know this because nothing God does is a mistake.

One of my favorite stories about missionary Gladys Aylward includes this truth. I'll quote from the book Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God to share it: "Gladys told Elisabeth Elliot about two childhood heartaches. One had been that all the other girls had golden curls while she had black hair. The other was that everybody else kept growing while she stopped at four feet, ten inches. Now in Tientsin [China], she stood in the midst of the people God had prepared her for. They all had black hair, and none of them had kept growing." Her "childhood heartaches" had been part of God's very specific plan for her life! 

<<First Name>>, as we think about what God has prepared for our children to do, let's pray for them to remember that God will use everything they have experienced for His glory. I wouldn't be who I am now if it weren't for Syble's influence in my life. I can live out God's purpose for me because of her! 
Join me in prayer, 

Heavenly Father, it's amazing to me that You have a purpose for each one of my children, a path laid out for them to follow.  You created them with care and attention in order to fulfill that purpose. I ask now that you make that clear in _____'s life. Remind him/her that You delight in them—You see them. In our family, sometimes ____ can feel overlooked or neglected, but he/she is never overlooked by You. You are working all things out for his/her good, and I praise You for that! In Jesus' name, amen.    
With Your Child:
It's easy for us to talk a lot about God's purpose for our children with disabilities because sometimes we have to remind others of their value and worth. But we also need to talk to our typical kids about God's purpose for them. We do that by focusing on who they are and what they do. Try encouraging your child today with something like, "God gave you such a gift for compassion! I see it when you care for your sister, and I can't wait to see how God will use that gift in the future!" Or, "God designed you to be a strong defender of those like your brother who can't always speak up for themselves. God will use you in the future to defend others, just like we see Jesus do in the Gospels."  

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