A Compassionate Voice for the Parents of Children with Hidden Disabilities
Melanie Boudreau
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Back to the Altar Again

12/2/2016

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I'm all for a miracle, but as parents we must be careful what we are communicating in pursuit of one.
Should we seek divine healing for our children with autism and other neurological differences? ​
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I serve a living God who heals not just emotional wounds, but who literally performs miracles in pursuit of the hearts of mankind. He reveals Himself this way sometimes.

When I was ministering in Myanmar exactly two years ago, I prayed for a Buddhist woman who was incapacitated by broken bones in her ankle. A Japanese pastor's wife and myself prayed for a miracle and God responded in under 3 minutes with an inexplicable miracle, the kind of life event that is so profound the woman immediately gave up her familial belief in Buddhism for our global God of creation, the God of the Bible. She joyfully surrendered her life to Him, to this miracle working God of love. ​
And yet, this past month I've been homebound myself with a shattered fibula in my ankle that required surgery, a metal plate and seven screws that is taking weeks to restore. And I am a friend of this God who heals. Even so, I don't get to pick and choose who He heals instantly and who He does not.

Although I know that adversity precedes greatness, nonetheless, I still sought divine healing throughout my daughter's entire childhood for her brain chemistry challenges. I sought healing because she was suffering, and who willingly embraces hardship for our children when there may be a way out? I wanted a way out: for her, for me, for our entire family. I wanted a powerful testimony of deliverance.
Our many trips to the altar inadvertently communicated to her that until God touched her neurology, her life was on hold. And she was broken, in need of a divine touch until she could have a rewarding life of fulfillment. Oh Jesus, forgive me!!
I grieve over the role I played that contributed towards my daughter feeling the need to ditch my God, a decision that I believe was wrong. But she was right to ditch my unconscious presuppositions that trapped her in a perpetual state of need rather than of gratitude. My daughter has taught me much. I'm all for a miracle, but as parents we must be careful what we are communicating in pursuit of one. Triumphing in the midst of challenges can be just as remarkable as an instantaneous act of God, and a platform for God to demonstrate His love and faithfulness to each of us over a lifetime.

"We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7 ERV)

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    About Melanie

    Two of our three children have Tourette's Syndrome as well as a few other co-morbidities, inherited neuropsychiatric disorders. I'm still happily married, love life and want to share encouragement bringing hope, humor and insight into the process of raising children who are different. 

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