Dear Mom, Hang On

Dear Mom of a child struggling with ADHD, inattentive ADD, dyslexia, Asperger’s, autism, sensory integration disorder, OCD, etc.,

When your daughter runs back to the bathroom to wash her hands one more time and her hands are raw and bleeding and cracked from over-washing, and you cannot reason with her and you cannot get her to stop, Mom, hang on.

When he can’t understand the passage he’s reading and he’s so stressed and he’s crying and you’re crying and you want to fix it but you can’t, Mom, hang on.

When they call you to the school and you find out that your son lost his temper … again… and knocked over desks and threw books, and you’re embarrassed and at a loss and you just don’t know how to help him, Mom, hang on.

When your son is crying in bed, regretting, wondering why God made him that way and your heart breaks right in two because he says, “I wish I was never born.  I want to die,” Mom, hang on.

When the noise is so loud somewhere and everyone else is having so much fun and your daughter suddenly melts down crying and screaming because it is just. too. much, Mom, hang on.

When another parent suggests that if you were a better disciplinarian, your child would do better, and you know what they’re thinking, and you know how HARD you’ve tried, Mom, hang on.

When you’ve tried essential oils, parenting techniques, diet changes, therapies out the wazoo, chiropractic care, classes, counseling, even medication, and things are just not getting better, Mom, hang on.

When people stare at you in public because your daughter is melting down ... again, and you’re sick of going out in public, and you’re tired and embarrassed and weary, Mom, hang on.

When you are so sick and tired of being late because your son’s socks “Don’t feel right” and the shoelaces are too tight and then not tight enough and you’ve tied those stupid shoes 5 times, Mom, hang on.

When your daughter’s grades are so bad because she is busy daydreaming about who-knows-what while the teacher is talking and you know how smart she is and you think you’ll scream if you hear a teacher say one more time that she’s not applying herself, Mom, hang on.

When your son has no friends because he has no concept of personal space and talks constantly and does not get social cues, Mom, hang on.

When you have lost your temper ….again… when you promised yourself you wouldn’t and you begged God to help you stay calm, Mom, hang on.

When your parents make comments and you’re smiling on the outside but dying on the inside, Mom, hang on.

When people say that ADHD doesn’t exist and you used to think the same thing but now you know better but you wished to God you didn’t, Mom, hang on.

When you have no one to talk to because no one truly understands because your kid looks normal on the outside, Mom, please hang on.

God can give you rest.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.     Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

God cares.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.      1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you…      Psalm 55:22  (NIV)

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

God will never leave you or your child. 

I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV).

 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

God hears you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.     Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

God has a plan.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

God gives you hope and peace.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.     Romans 15:13 (NIV)

God strengthens you.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.     Philippians 4:13  (NIV)

You are important.  You are needed.  You are loved.  You matter.  

Her children rise up and call her blessed.     Proverbs 31:28-30 (ESV)

Dear Mom, Hang on.