In saying prayers with my girls every night, I’ve come to passionately pray about how they are perfectly made, and tell them that, because I don’t want them to feel badly about their disabilities, or being a girl, or any of the crummy stuff the world falsely tells you when you’re not “perfect” (as if anyone is).
This, then, brings me back to homeopathy and biomedical and the argument about curing autism – or other disabilities.
My dilemma is this:
God made them perfectly, so their disabilities are there for a reason.
However, potty training, reading, basic math, safety, and following directions are critical skills you need in life, and anything that can get my girls to conquer which of those – and a few others – can’t be a bad thing. Supplements, ABA, homeopathy, whatever it may be, as long as it helps them navigate the “must do” stuff in life.
And if along THAT route, I get them so far healed that they are barely disabled, awesome!
And when I see that actually happen for some children, like Caroline, I want that, I hope for it, I pray for it.
And THEN I stop – am I wrong? What if this can’t happen? What if even if I could try, it’s not reasonable because I don’t have the resources?
What then? And, is that praying for my children to be whole, just me spitting in the face of God? Is it just jealousy and envy?
You see how my head is spinning.
Melissa Long says
If I knew what would “heal” my son’s autism for sure, I would do most anything to ensure that he be cured. Yes, he’s taught me a lot about life and “made me a better person,” but I feel he’s suffering as he is. Most parents, I think, would want to end the physical and emotional toll that autism brings to the family. I absolutely understand why some parents feel their child is perfect as is and wouldn’t want a cure. More power to them! 🙂
Gina B says
I’m with you on all that. I think one of the things that troubles me is the suffering they can’t articulate – or don’t know about! If you’ve been in constant pain since birth, how would you know you’re in pain? Then there’s the symptoms that “don’t count”: mild eczema, persistent runny stools, dark circles under eyes, etc. I hear it time and time again: when those are healed, learning or behavior or something else improves! If you don’t believe your child is physically ill, and he actually is, what then?