Welcome back for Part 2 of guest blogger Rebekah Benimoff’s series about ways to make the holiday season enjoyable and meaningful for families raising kids with special needs. In today’s installment, Rebekah explains how prayer gives her a different perspective when holiday stress invades her spirit.

Special Needs Holiday Lesson 2: Pray Through It

Since my family has quite a few special needs beneath one roof, our family does things differently than others I know. My husband has PTSD, and he has difficulty dealing with crowds, so he does not attend large group holiday events. Everyone else is with their spouse, but there are times when half of me is missing.  I feel sad, and I’ve realized in recent years that there is a grieving that must be done. Some of our differences are still hard, and giving myself permission to be sad is not only freeing, but healthy.

One way to be set free from overwhelming stress and regret is simply to address the issue. We have chosen to do things differently than how it was done when I was growing up—for our own wellness. I’ve learned to own that choice, while admitting the sadness, and to surrender each and every issue through focused prayer.

My prayers look like this: Father God, I am feeling sadness because _________. I also feel __________________ (left out, lonely, stressed, etc.) Help me to admit these feelings and release every fear. Show me what you want to deal with now, in this moment.

I list out each fear, each sadness, each concern that comes to mind. Then I visualize an altar. I make the conscious choice to place everything on that altar (sadness, anxiety, people pleasing, perfectionism, etc.) being very specific—and then I visualize surrendering each issue God, one by one.

Then I visualize God’s big, capable hands gently lifting everything and tenderly cradling me to his heart. I recognize that God has called me to walk a different path and I claim peace with my decision to choose the path he has carved out for me as I care for my special needs family.

How does prayer give you a different perspective about God and holiday stress? Leave a comment.

Special Needs Holiday Lesson, Part 1
Special Needs Holiday Lesson, Part 3

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