It seems like parents dealing with disabilities always have too little time. In addition to the normal demands of life concerning job, home, and family, parents are given additional responsibilities for appointments, therapies, arranging and providing care.
On the other hand, people with disabilities often find that they have too much time on their hands with very little to occupy their days. These are challenges which help mold us into the people that we are.
Having little time should force us to define our priorities. If we’re thinking straight, we will discard whatever items on our schedule aren’t vitally important and focus on doing those things that absolutely have to get done each day. We become people who know which are the things that really matter, and people who aren’t fooled by the entertainment culture around us.
Having too much time should force us to seek God’s will. Disabilities can limit where we go, what we can do, and how we communicate. The one thing that disabilities can not limit is our ability to pray. The eloquence of our prayers may be limited, but the New Testament doesn’t value prayers for their eloquence. Our ability to use our minds may be limited, but that’s where the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words.
Do you feel like you have too little time on your hands? Or perhaps too much? Either way, bringing this concern to the feet of Jesus is a good idea.
These are some thoughts which encourage me, and help me think through the challenge of managing time when life seems discouraging. Remembering you’re not alone, that other people are going through the same struggles, is sometimes the greatest encouragement of all.
