The first post in this series introduced you to Deborah Arrona, her husband Salvador, and their daughter Aria. If you haven’t read Part 1 of the series, the background information it provides will help this post make more sense.

Salvador and Deborah were only 20 when their premature baby arrived, and they’re only 26 now. But they have valuable wisdom to share. While everything can’t be shared here, (though I hope to include more of their story in Different Dream Parenting, my new book which is in the works) these comments give you a flavor of how the Arronas are choosing to live and grow through the life of their child with special needs.

What Are Your Greatest Sources of Support?

Deborah answered that question immediately. “My husband is the number one best. He’s a positive guy. If he sees the negative, be doesn’t mention it. If he grieves, it’s private. He does well with Aria and always encourages me. He thinks of another way to deal with problems. he helped me with grieving, and showed me it’s okay to feel how I do. He doesn’t judge me. I don’t have to ask for help. He just does it because he’s her dad. He helps me because I’m Aria’s mom.”

He’s as amazing as his wife, don’t you think?

Describe How You Started a Special Needs Ministry at Your Church

Elim Church, the Arrona’s home church even before Aria was born, has also been a source of support. They were always eager for updates about her progress. When Aria was well enough to attend church, she stayed in the nursery while her parents went to worship and Sunday school.

More parents of kids with special needs started attending the church, more than the nursery could handle. Suddenly, there was a need for a ministry for kids like Aria. Church leaders approached Deborah and asked if she would help get things going. Well, it just so happened that a few years earlier, a church in the area held a conference about how to start special needs ministries. Deborah attended, just in case the information would be needed some day. She shared the information with her church leaders. But still she said, “I thought the program would be for me, not by me.”

God had other plans. Deborah was asked to lead the program, and she said she would pray and consider it. No one else volunteered. More families of kids with special needs started coming. More issues related to their needs arose. Suddenly, Deborah knew she could do the job by asking, “What would I want for my child?”

She realized she knew how to answer that question and volunteered to lead it. Her husband said he would help. Each week, they make sure they aren’t just babysitting the kids from 11 families who attend. “We have a time for the kids to praise and worship, either with the other children or in a quieter setting.”

What Would I Want for My Child?

Deborah Arrona is an amazing woman. Because she asked a good question – What would I want for my child? – God showed her what to do and is using her to help many other kids with a wide variety of special needs. Their church is growing because she and her husband saw a need and stepped forward to meet it.

What question is God waiting for me to ask? What question is he waiting to hear from your lips?

Part 1

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