This new book from Crossway is one that every Pastor of Pastoral Care or every Pastor of Disabled Ministries is going to need to purchase and keep on hand. The essays are amazing. They are not so much academic in nature as they are personal and practical in nature.
Each of those contributing to the book have either dealt with their own disability (Joni Erickson Tada) or are the care giver for someone who is disabled (Gregory Hatteberg for his wife Lisa). Their experiences give them a platform from which to write with passion, grace, understanding and insight. Each of the authors also comes from a very deep Biblical Commitment to the truth of God's word and the truth of God's love for His creation, man.
I think one of the major things that struck me was the love each of these people has for their spouses. Often times you find the author referring back to the marriage vows that were taken when they first married. Those vows of in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better or worse. . . . these vows really come home to people who have a spouse who is dealing with a disability. They see how those vows are important. They are a commitment that they made before God and need to be fulfilled. When God made vows with man he made a commitment to always fulfill those vows, His Covenants were promises that were and are always fulfilled.
The statistics that get pointed out often are that many spouses abandoned or divorce their disabled spouse because it is too difficult to deal with. This is not what they signed up for. But low and behold the authors remind us that no, really, this is what they signed up for. This is how they will show the world the Love of Christ, how they respond to this crisis and to their loved one.
Further the book gives many practical suggestions to us the church about how we should minister to the disabled. How we should treat the handicapped. How we need to be careful that we don't treat these people as though they are broken or sinful or (can I really say this) dumb. Yeah, several times it is pointed out that we at times treat the handicapped as though they don't have any IQ or cognitive abilities. That is not always the case. So there are good practical notes for us to take as we develop our ministries and reach out to our communities.
One last major section that I appreciated was the discussion often to us about the Biblical aspect of Suffering. How do we respond to people who are in pain? How do we respond to people who are disabled? How do we answer their honest questions of, WHY ME?
How do you help people to move past the bitterness and anger at God and help them to honestly see the blessings and gifts that God has given to them. I really think the best chapter for me was Chapter Five. Gregory Hatteberg tells of the terrible development in his marriage with Lisa when they discovered that she had MS. She gave birth to four fabulous children and had a husband who was in Seminary and wanting to go into ministry. What would the MS do to their dreams. Well, you need to read it for yourself. But Gregory's selfless love for his wife and family are the things that we Pastors wish we would see in all couples who get married in our churches.
Well, I have gone on to long. Do you realize by now that I loved this book? I think we all need to read it, think about it, and gain all of the insights we can from it. If nothing else please learn about how God wants you to keep the VOWS that you make.
God bless and Enjoy!
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