As I was working through my monthly Bible study on “Disruption” with The Christian Advantage, I was drawn to my under-reaction to this pandemic.  The focus for this month’s study relates to our reaction to the disruptions in life; in particular to COVID-19.  However, throughout the lesson, my mind kept going to other disruptions in my life, not COVID-19 in particular.  This under-reaction to a pandemic probably seems very odd to an outsider; especially those with typical children.

Am I doing my part to stay home?  Yes.  That is, when I am not rushing my child to the hospital…

Am I aware of the seriousness and understanding of the precautions being taken?  Of course.  

Am I praying for our city, our country, for healthcare workers?  Absolutely.

However, this disruption, although enormous and life altering, just has not affected me or shocked me the way it has many loved ones.  As I dove into seeking the root, I became very aware of how much life is disrupted for those of us with critically and chronically ill children.  We parents became germaphobes at the onset of our child’s diagnosis (welcome to our world!).  We’ve had many times of being home bound because of our children’s immune system being comprised, recovering from multiple surgeries, need for consistent routine, or low blood levels.  Our lives have been totally disrupted countless times as hospital stays have our complete attention and there just isn’t room for anything else.

While this COVID-19 disruption is terrible and affects many more people, it is the same as every other disruption we parents of critically and chronically ill children have in one aspect; our response can have a tremendous effect on those around us.  We have a unique platform to impact lives.  Inspire others to persevere through challenges. Love hard and beyond measure.  

“While disruptions are an assault on the familiar, it is our reaction to the Disruption which determines if the outcome will be used for good or for evil.”  Bruce Zoeller, President of The Christian Advantage

Parents, believe me, I understand the hard. I am right there with you. I know this disruption comes with many inconveniences and additional challenges in caring for our children.  But I want to encourage you today to use this opportunity to be a LIGHT in the darkness. To point others to Jesus as HIS STRENGTH helps you endure.  To win the battle. To finish strong. This is your opportunity to show the world how to handle disruptions with grace.  With patience.  And with THANKSGIVING.  We parents of EXTRAordinary kiddos have more experience in these matters. Let us use that experience to remind others that while we can’t control situations, we can certainly control how we react to them. Today, let’s choose to be the light.

We are in this together!

Much Loved, TyiaLynn