Does God Speak Dutch? is an unusual way to begin a Different Dream post during the Christmas season. I encourage you to read on and let guest blogger Steve Harris explain the connection. It’s a good one you won’t want to miss!

This December Andy Williams will remind us often that Christmas is the “most wonderful” and “happ-happiest season of the year!” It’s easy to see why. Festive lights, frosted cookies, family parties, presents under a tree. Favorite movies are part of the fun too. One I enjoy is Miracle on 34th Street. It was released in 1947 and re-made in 1994.

My favorite scene is when the little girl, a Dutch war orphan, wants to see Santa at Macy’s. “She doesn’t speak English,” explains her adopted mom, “but was sure you could talk with her.” Santa pauses, smiles, then tenderly lifts the child onto his lap. The two begin to visit and sing—in Dutch. Her guardian tears up. I dare you to watch Miracle on 34th street Dutch girl scene without getting a little weepy yourself.

Double-dog dare you.

It’s a sweet picture of a remarkable spiritual truth for parents of children who are disabled and have special needs. When I was a new dad of a baby born with spina bifida, someone gave me a short story to read. The title was Welcome to Holland written by Emily Perl Kingsley. She was one of the first writers on Sesame Street and the mom of a son with Down Syndrome. In my 44 years of parenting two sons with disabilities, it remains the most powerful, honest, and helpful perspective I’ve ever read for parents like us.

Get ready for Kleenex Number 2.

Here’s a short summary of Kingsley’s amazing analogy. Joyfully anticipating the birth of a child is like planning a dream vacation to Italy. Your plane lands and the attendant announces, “Welcome to Holland!”

“Holland? That’s not right. We’re supposed to be in Italy.” The surprise, shock—and yes, the sadness—of that new reality will be part of us forever. But then come new realities and adjustments, and the life-saving truth that there are also wonderful—can we even say glorious?—things about Holland.

The Miracle on 34th street Dutch girl scene and Welcome to Holland revealed a truth for me that crystallized into questions that go way beyond fuzzy, greeting card sentimentality.

Did God arrive with us in Holland?
Is He here now?
Does He know how all of this feels?
Most importantly, does God speak Dutch?

I believe He does.

He is with us on every step of our parenting journey. He speaks our language. He knows how we feel. He knows the words we need to strengthen and encourage us, though I may not always hear them. I’ve learned that sadness can create spiritual deafness. But God continues to speak, in words accessible through His Word, in a language I need to listen to, learn, and understand. It is a language of presence and purpose.

It is a language of love.

Dad and Mom, may His words be clear to you this season and all through the new year. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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Windmill Image by piccolomondo from Pixabay
Santa Claus Photo by Srikanta H. U on Unsplash