December 4th Meeting

Today at MOPS we had a panel discussion on parenting & special needs. The spectrum of topics ranged from Autism & learning disabilities to Cerebral Palsy & physical challenges such as severe allergies, but we all face some sort of suffering in our lives, and the panel sought to address the deeper question: How can we deal with and teach our children about suffering?

Just a few of the suggestions our speakers shared include:

• Encourage that mom in her marriage. Offer to babysit so that parents can have a date night.
• Encourage with Scripture, because everything else is going to fail them.
• Rake leaves, do laundry, sit with a child so that mom can take a shower.
• Ask positive questions about special needs kids, and call them by name, for example "How is [name]?" or "What's new with [name]?"

Shawn Pierce, Pastor Tim Haugen, Ross L., Lori Running, Kim Kubicek

2 Corinthians 2:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

 John 9:1-3
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Recommended books:

• What is Heaven Like by Beverly Lewis
• Just the Way I Am: God's Good Design in Disability by Krista Horning
• Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn
• Joni Eareckson Tada's disability ministries - http://www.joniandfriends.org/
• The phone number for ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education) in Owatonna: 444.7800
• Kim K recommends:
  
  For kids: Ian's walk by Lauire Lears and Karen Ritz
  My Best Friend Will by Jamie Lowell
  Fiction written by someone with Autism:
  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon
  NonFiction: Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin
  The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartin
  Websites:
  www.autismspeaks.org
  www.fraser.org
  www.autismsupportnetwork.com
• Shawn Pierce recommends:
  
  Just As I Am (Krista Horning)
  Helping Those Who Hurt (Norman Wright)
  Extraordinary Kids (Fuller and Jones)
  Special Strength for Special Parents (Nina Fuller)
  Compassionate Caregiving (Lois Knutson)
  The Unexpected Gift/Raising Children with Disabilities (Michelle Screder)
  Same Lake Different Boat (Stephanie Hubach)
  Unexpected Journey (Joe & Cindi Ferrini)
  Finding Your Child's Way on The Autism Spectrum (Dr. Laura Hendrickson)
  Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities (Barbara Newman)
  Holding On To Hope (Nancy Guthrie)
  We have many more resources available at Joni and Friends, Msp.
  Our office number is 952-933-7777
• More books below (click to enlarge)

...and last month's newsletter, in case you missed it!
11.12mopsPDF