God knows everything about your situation, and no one cares more for your children than he does. He will provide a way to meet your children’s needs even when you are no longer able to care for them.
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a word to parents of special needs kids.
I know that many listeners are moms and dads of young people with disabilities and, as years go by, your disabled child is getting older. You are getting older! And as the future looms in the distance, you may be wondering and even worrying about what will happen to your adult child with his or her disability. I see it all the time with aging families who attend our Joni and Friends Family Retreats. Some of these mothers and fathers are in their 70s with a disabled son or daughter who is in their 40s. I’ve talked to these moms and dads and they are praying – and praying hard – that God’ll give them answers as to who will take care of their adult child after God calls them home to heaven.
Well, if you happen to be such a parent, take heart. God knows all about your situation, and the God of the Bible is a caring and compassionate Father who has a special concern for children like yours. It says so in Psalm 146:9; it says it in Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 7:6, Zechariah 7:10, and James 1:27. I mean, no one cares more for the child, even an adult child, without his father or mother; no one cares more than our wise and compassionate God. But there are steps that you can take to begin planning for your child’s future. And it is fitting to be touching on this topic since this marks Estate Planning Week. Every parent shows godly wisdom when they plan for the time when they are unable to care for their children. For parents of children who may never grow into typical adult independence, questions regarding their adult child’s long-term care become critical, and as the parents age, even urgent. But as Corrie ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
And while Joni and Friends cannot take the place of a legal advisor, we can provide some solid suggestions. First, make a list of all the kinds of support you believe would be necessary for your adult disabled child to flourish, everything from medical decision-making to ongoing guardianship. Next, be sure you work with an attorney who understands how to set up a special-needs trust. It’s critical because you want your child with disabilities to benefit from the trust without jeopardizing their eligibility for other public services. And choose a guardian who shares your family values and your life values; someone who knows Jesus intimately and has a love for your child. Sometimes even a church community can step into the role of guardian, and they can play an active part in praying for your child.
Look, I don’t want to say much more here, but I do want to encourage you to not put it off. Now is the time to start planning. Like the Bible says, remember the ant and the way he stores up for the winter, right? It’s a simple proverb, but it’s fitting when it comes to planning for your disabled child’s future. Most of all, make sure that your adult child knows Jesus Christ and is involved in a church community that celebrates his life. With legal advice, prayer support, and caring brothers and sisters in the Lord, you can rest confidently. God will make a way to meet each adult child’s needs when he or she outlives your ability to provide that care. Look us up at joniradio.org and let us know how we can be praying for your adult child with a disability! We want to join our Savior in heaven in interceding for your special needs. Again, just write us your prayer request at joniradio.org and then, please keep us posted on how you’re doing and what’s going on. Thanks for listening!
© Joni and Friends