Wonderfully Made and Prayer

Yesterday was "Wonderfully Made Day" at our church home, Bridgeway.  I am SO incredibly proud of our church!  I'm grateful to be a part of a body that values those with special needs of all kinds.  Check out the Wonderfully Made Mission Statement from Bridgeway:

“The Mission”

“Our role in ministry is to help people grow a tender, unshakable love for Christ.  God gives us tough situations that seem hard, but in fact, they are merciful” – Children Desiring God

We are not here just so the families won’t feel bad, but so that they will come to know Jesus.  We are here to encourage them so that Christ, and not the disability, will be the center of the home.  

Here are some points we covered yesterday, along with the information that was sent home to each parent.  Read it.  Take it all in, and then talk about it as a family.  We want to change the culture.  We want special-needs individuals to be created equal, and that starts at home!  

"We want you to be aware of what we discussed so that you can welcome discussion within your home.  The best thing children can do is to ask questions about those who might look or act differently than they do.  Do not be afraid of their questions – invite them and be honest with your children!  Knowledge is power where special needs are concerned, and you will help teach your children to love EVERYONE well. 

• ·         God Made Me!  Psalm 139:13
• ·         God made us All just the way that He wanted! Psalm 139:14am
• ·         God loves us ALL just the way that we are. Psalm 139:14am
• ·         Some people have a disability or have special needs; that means God made them a little differently.  Exodus 4:11
• ·         Some people may not look the way that you do.  They may not talk like you, move like you, or eat like you.  That’s okay!  I Samuel 16:7b
• ·         God has a special plan for EVERYONE’S life! Jeremiah 29:11
• ·         God is in control of everything, including me, you and all of those around you! Matt. 10:29, 31
• ·         Even when I am sad and hurting, God is with me and God is with those around me with special needs and disabilities.  Psalm 46:1
• ·         God watches over me and over my friends with special needs.  Psalm 23:4
• ·         God takes care of ALL of our needs Phil. 4:19
• ·         God gave His son Jesus for ME and for ALL of those with special needs.  He gave his son for ALL people!  Romans 5:8
• ·         God makes some people with special needs.  2 Corinthians 4:17
• ·         God loves us ALL just the way that we are!  Jeremiah 31:3b

Also, please be sure to encourage your family to avoid the following words, which are considered very hurtful for those with special needs as well as for their families:  Retarded, Short Bus, Lame, Crazy, and Dumb"

How great is that?  We are teaching the generations how to love and accept those who may be different!  By the way, if you want more information on Bridgeway's Wonderfully Made Ministry, please email me at tullyryan@hotmail.com.  Lord, spread this truth like wildfire!  

Now, on to some ways to pray for our family . . . 

Lucy is having a terrible time.  That "abundant life here on earth" isn't happening, at least in this momma's eyes.  Her screaming is increasing, despite the heavy meds we've added.  We've done everything we know to do: we've visited the ER and clinic almost every day last week.  We've switched the times meds are given.  We've cried out to her team of doctors, and most of all to the Lord.  We are at a loss, ya'll.  

My biggest fear is that this is NKH progressing, and not a problem that we could fix (ex: UTI, kidney stones, ulcers, etc).  I do NOT want Lucy's life to be one full of pain.  No mother wants that!  So, we need your prayers.  

Prayer Requests:

1. Pray for Lucy's pain to be controlled

2.  Pray for us and for her doctors as we navigate through this

3.  Pray for clear answers where her pain is concerned.  

4.  Pray for me as I've once again been having terrible migraines

5.  Pray for Stan (Mike's daddy) as he undergoes a cardiac ablation today at Baptist hospital in OKC.

6.  Pray for us as storm season approaches (first chance is this week), and I for one am still incredibly affected by fear where tornadoes are concerned (all bc of last year's devastating storm).  

Your prayers and friendship are invaluable to us!

Ryan

Fired Up and Acting On It

Tonight, I'm calling you to action - 

on behalf of special needs people and their loved ones . . .  

I admit to being a sensitive person, and sometimes words cut me to the core.  I'm also fiercely loyal, and if I feel that someone I love is being hurt, well . . . you better watch out!  Since God has birthed in me a heart for those with special needs, I am extremely protective of those who seem to be different than me physically or mentally (really, aren't we ALL a little different from each other?).  That brings me to tonight and why I need your help.

This evening, I had a few minutes by myself so I sat in bed and turned on the TV.  So many depressing things are on now days (how old do I sound?).  I flipped to the Lifetime Network and saw a show, "Kim of Queens".  Now, I have a very brief history with pageants, so this sparked my eye.  Kim seemed super funny and outgoing.  I found myself bursting out in laughter several times.  The girl is funny, ya'll.  


And then it happened . . . 

Kim was talking to her mom and sister, and called them "special needs".  Then she mockingly used her hands, acting like she was using sign language (it obviously wasn't).  I was shocked that this woman just said and did these things, and that Lifetime put it on the air!  I turned back to the show sometime later caught the very end, where once again Kim called her sister "special needs" in a derogatory manner.  WHAT?! REALLY?  DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?!  


Here's the thing . . . 

What if Kim had used other slurs to describe her mom and sister?  What if she had made other hand gestures, rather than impersonating someone who is deaf?  Well, we wouldn't see it because they wouldn't air it, and they shouldn't have aired this either.  

Miss Kim should not have been allowed to use those slurs on television.  She shouldn't be allowed to say or do those things on TV.  These things shouldn't have been aired nor should they be tolerated, just as slurs about race or sexual orientation should never be used, condoned or promoted. 

It infuriates me to see people so casually use slurs such as "retarted", which essentially is what Miss Kim was doing.  I have TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS who are considered "mentally retarted".  Yep, it's on their medical records.  They are "special needs" Miss Kim, and I LOVE THEM just the way they are.  You bet your bottom-dollar that I get fired up when someone uses hateful language such as this.  And making mocking gestures as if you are using sign language? Miss Kim is a grown woman, a professional woman, and she should know better. Lifetime, YOU should know better than to allow something like this to air.  


Bottom Line . . . 

DO NOT use these words, people. DO NOT mock those who are different than you.  It is cruel. It is heartless. When you use these words in a hateful way, you are telling the special-needs world that they are not important; that they are "less than" what you are, which is certainly NOT the case. We are ALL created equal, and we are ALL fearfully and wonderfully made.  


What to do . . . 

Contact the Lifetime/AE Networks and let them know that this type of language isn't going to be tolerated.  Let them know that it is NOT okay to mock or call people names.  They may not have thought that the Special Needs Community would stand up, but they are wrong.  We will speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.  We will fight for those who cannot fight.  

• Website: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/kim-of-queens/about and write in the "comments" section

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-of-Queens/211530722367631?fref=ts and let her know this is not okay

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifetime?fref=ts to share your thoughts

• Twitter:  #kimofqueens and/or @lifetimetv and tweet your message or forward this blog post

• Email: Lifetime AE Networks - aefeedback@aenetworks.com 

I give my permission for you to share this blog post as you see fit.  

I encourage you to please be respectful and polite - the opposite of what was shown on "Kim of Queens". Let's ask them to take action and prevent Kim from using these slurs in future episodes.  Let's also let them know that the Special Needs Community is strong, and we won't let people abuse or hurt those we love.  

And just so I make my true heart known - I am not revengeful.  I truly want to stand up and show the world that these things cannot be tolerated.  I want the world to know that Special Needs people of ALL kinds MATTER.  I understand that Kim may not be aware that these are hurtful things to say and do.  She may not have thought about how those words and actions would hurt others. I know I've done that far too many times in my life as well.  No judgement here.  Just a special-needs momma calling for action, for peace, for love in word and in deed - especially (and certainly not to be limited to) those who cannot speak for themselves.  


Fired Up and Acting On It, 

Ryan