Storytelling has been used to pass information and history across generations. There is power in a story-power to make meaningful connections, foster empathy, and spread awareness. We believe sharing stories about Henry on this blog will set hearts on fire for the special needs community. I knew I would have to write about his life in chunks because it’s not easy to revisit. But with hindsight, sharing his experiences has opened my eyes to the moments Jesus was holding our family. This week, a very wise friend reminded me that His promise is “I am with you.” She shared a quote with me, “A good parent doesn’t take the hard out of life, a good parent takes the “alone” out of it.” That thought encouraged me to think about our Heavenly Father in this light. Could He have taken away Henry’s challenges? Yes! Did he? No! Instead, He took the “alone” out of our circumstances. He was holding us in this promise all along.
In the Christian culture, a testimony is the word we use to describe our stories of surrendering and falling in love with Jesus. Last weekend our pastor said our testimonies should not point out how good we are, they should point back to how good God is. I used to believe that a testimony was limited to one story that captured a single pivotal moment of complete surrender. The more I fall in love with Jesus, the more I desire Henry’s story and our family’s life to be a testimony that points back to God. Following the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and sharing a testimony are nearly impossible when I’m making sure Henry isn’t running into traffic or stealing someone’s ponytail holder. So, this online community has become more than a place to spread awareness and advocate on behalf of the special needs community. It’s become a place where I can also share the steps and stumbles dotting our walk with Christ.
This blog post is not “The End,” but rather a “To be continued…” If you’ve been following Henry, you know he has been diagnosed with an SCN1B variant and level 3 nonverbal autism. These diagnoses are responsible for his global developmental delays. This is where Henry’s story intersects with today, our current reality. I’ll continue to post blogs, but they’ll be sporadic. Depending on how life unfolds, I might write once a month or three times a week. I would love to share glimpses of Henry’s unique life with you. I’m positive the future will hold extraordinary tales of bumbling…like my accidentally dressing Henry in girls’ flare jeans. There will be shenanigans to manage, such as Henry stealing everyone’s lunches & tumblers at a pool party yesterday. I’m certain there will be moments when we will request prayer as he navigates a world that isn’t built for him, encounters unkind people, and faces medical setbacks. Celebrate Henry’s successes with us! Cheer him on as he grows and soars to new heights! If you would like to follow his story a little closer, you can find him on Facebook at Hearts for Henry or our h4h_nonprofit on Instagram. (We share Henry updates more frequently on social media than through blogs.) Our life is messy, dramatic, terrifying, joyful, and full of love. God’s there for it, all of it. That’s His promise! We’d like to invite you to continue, with us, on this beautifully chaotic walk.
