Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy… (Psalm 82:3-4 NIV)
Yesterday, our son had his third hip surgery. As I wrote this, he was sleeping off the anesthesia, and we were preparing to make the four-hour drive home. (*Update – we made it home without incident, and he’s doing well.)
From the security officer who checked us in at 5:50 a.m. to every doctor, nurse, technician, and staff member we encountered, we have been surrounded by kindness and compassion. Because of the nature of their work, these hospital workers care for children from many different backgrounds—some facing severe medical conditions and lifelong challenges, and others, like our son, needing care for a specific season. Some children may return home quickly, while others may become familiar faces over many years. And sadly, some are remembered because they were deeply loved but did not stay to live on this earth.
This is the reality of life. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is a time to be born and a time to die.” This is not simply a philosophical idea; it is a truth we all encounter.
But between birth and death there is a sacred space—a season filled with living, breathing, growing, learning, struggling, celebrating, failing, persevering, loving, and becoming.
Today, I am especially grateful for those whose calling is to care for children with special needs. In hospitals like this one, doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians, and countless others use their knowledge and compassion to support children with unique medical challenges. In schools and educational settings, teachers, therapists, and support staff help children learn, grow, and reach their God-given potential. And behind each child is often a family faithfully navigating appointments, treatments, therapies, decisions, and the many unexpected moments that come with this journey.
I have a friend who cared for her daughter, “Ginny,” who had significant disabilities until Ginny passed away at age twenty. I doubt my friend would describe her daughter simply by her limitations. Instead, she would tell you what a gift her life was to their family. She would share how deeply God revealed Himself through those years—how she experienced His presence in ways she never would have known otherwise. She would talk about the beauty of Ginny’s life, the joy she brought, and the profound impact she had on her parents and her four siblings.
I imagine that, at some point, this family relied on many of the same services and people we have encountered this week.
So today, let us pray for those who care for children with special needs. Let us lift up the families who faithfully and sacrificially love their children every day. And let us ask God to open our eyes to the opportunities around us—to notice, encourage, support, and bless those who walk this unique and holy path of caregiving.
Every life is a gift. Every child bears the image of God. And every person who offers care, compassion, and love is participating in the work of reflecting His heart to the world.
Compassionate God,
Thank you for the gift of LIFE that you pour into us, your beloved ones. Thank you for each precious life you create, and especially for those whose callings are to care for children with special needs. Today we ask for a fresh strengthen for all those who work with these children – for parents and caregivers, for medical and educational staff, and for others who pour their love and expertise into these young lives. Grant them wisdom, courage, support, financial and other resources, and a great sense of your Holy Spirit’s comfort and encouragement in their lives. Bless them abundantly for their efforts to care for your precious young ones, we ask in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
The Lord protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness. (Psalm 41:1-3 NIV)
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me. (Psalm 138:1-3 NIV)