For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph. 2:8-10 NIV
For 25 years I had one main job, being a mom to our 4 children. Our 4th child, Joshua, was born with moderately severe Cerebral Palsy. While my children were young, caring for all of their needs, teaching them, and helping them grow occupied all of my time. Because of the demands of my young family I couldn’t teach Sunday School or help with VBS. Later, I was unable to serve consistently because only a trusted nurse could take my place caring for Joshua’s many and complicated needs. I had many days with little sleep and my 18 hour day consisted of feeding, changing, repositioning, and assisting Joshua with breathing, with little time for anything else. Often I felt tired and useless in doing Kingdom work.
But, God had actually prepared me for this very important work of caring for Joshua. My mom was a nurse, my dad had worked with disabled adults, I had an elementary teaching degree, I have a stubborn streak that insists on rooting for the underdog, and I had loved and cared for babies and children since I was very young. My parent’s knowledge was invaluable in our journey with Joshua. My education and my personality helped us to advocate for Joshua in school and in life. When I was young, all I had ever wanted was to have babies so I could pour out all my love into their lives. Joshua lived to be 20, but his physical needs were much like a baby’s needs all of his life. God put me together exactly as I needed to be – so I could be the best mama for Joshua and for our other 3 children.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” Eph. 2:10. I did not know we would have a disabled child, but God did. He prepared me, he gave me the best husband and support I could ever have. God showed me, in the midst of caring for Joshua, that my work was valuable, and caring for my family was exactly the Kingdom work God wanted me to be doing at that time. God has made each of us unique, “we are God’s workmanship.” How has God made you unique? What are your strengths, talents, abilities? Evaluate how the “unique you” can be used to serve God and others in your vocation.
By Grace Hunter
