My friends. As many of my readers know, over the past 4 years, we have struggled with getting our son the services that he needs.
Initially this began as a struggle with our local education authority. Gradually, it transitioned to psychiatric residential treatment facilities.
Constantly being aware of the needs of our children, being ever vigilant of their every move, mood change, or behaviour can be taxing on any parent. After all, we are not able to run our homes like the facilities we find ourselves placing our children in for care. It strains family relationships, marriages, the childhood of siblings and so many other facets of our lives.
A short time ago, I was humbled to receive an advance copy of the book “Get Your Joy Back” by Laurie Wallin.
The book is like a roadmap for the beginning stages of mental health. I read it the first time over the course of a weekend. Now, I am going back through it a second time. It is now heavily highlighted with passages that resonate with me. Passages such as:
- p 38 — If stress is our silent killer, unrealistic expectations are its abettors.
- p 43 — It’s easier to nurse resentment than to allow ourselves to feel pain, guilt, sadness and fear.
- p 43 — resentment is a recipe for building walls
- p 43 — Honesty about what frustrates us and bothers us doesn’t make us bad parents.
- p 45 — Because sometimes special needs don’t feel special at all; they feel more like a nightmare. It’s okay to admit that
- p 48 — Active forgiveness is doing forgiveness. It means we intend forgiveness before we get out of bed to face each day with our children.
- p 51 — stop reacting and start responding to the challenges
- p 57 — Joy happens when we stop trying to avoid or FIX our child’s quirks, and instead ask God for for eyes to see what He intended when He wired them that way.
- p 61 — Hebrews 11:1
- p 86 — We feel isolated or left out
In the coming weeks, I will devote one post a week to portions of this book. Why?
Because I think it is that valuable. That it is important to our own mental health. When was the last time you felt true joy? I make no guarantees, and don’t claim to be an expert, but through the process of finding my joy, I hope to share this journey with you.
Do you need to be in touch with the “touchy feely” side of yourself to get something out of this book? No. Honestly though, if you have a child, don’t you have contact with the “touchy feely” side of your personality?
That we may all experience joy again.