Image Bearers

 

On Friday I had the opportunity to attend The Chattanooga Autism Conference with some others from Grace. We sat through sessions learning about autism from the perspective of teachers, parents and those who have autism themselves. There were about 700 people there and many different presenters. I’m grateful to have been able to spend the day thinking about the unique and special ways God has created these people and to learn more about how to come alongside and connect with people with autism.

As I have walked this role as Elementary Director the past few years at Grace Baptist Church I have both been dragged along and have also sat back and watched God orchestrate our Image Bearers (special needs) ministry. I say this both ways because there have been some days when I have felt so far in over my head that I have pushed back against what God had in store for us. This was when He graciously just dragged me along. There was no stopping the growth and learning and family He had planned.

But I have also sat back in awe as God has kick started a desire and passion and heart for the kids that come through the church doors to belong, be loved, be welcomed, and have a safe place. I have watched countless of our church members who work with children learn alongside myself. Cheryl Winget and Donna Patrick organized a whole training a year and a half ago on children with learning support needs. Other teachers have brainstormed and planned on how to include families with kids who are so very special and just need some extra support.

We have several amazing families who are a part of our church family and have children on the autism spectrum. We have kids who come to Awana and VBS who are outside of our immediate church family and are a part of our community who are beginning to trust us to care for their kids with special needs. Do we have it all figured out? Absolutely not. But has God been so evidently leading us this whole time? Yes and Amen.

At the conference, there was so much information to take in. Tips and supports shared. One piece that really stuck with me was the importance of and desire for connection. A man who wasn’t diagnosed with autism until he was in his 40s talked about the difficulties of the lack of support he had as a child. An audience member asked him, when looking back, what help and support did he wish he had received (particularly from teachers). His answer was, “I wish they took the time to get to know me.”

Don’t we all want that? We have a desire to be known! God built into us a need for relationship. And while we may think, communicate, and see the world differently, what an impact of love we can make on someone’s life just to take the time to know them. It is so fulfilling and a gift of hope when we think about how known we are by our Creator God. We can point others to Him when we show an offering of care in someone else’s life.

Tonight at Awana, one of our Image Bearer kids was having a hard time entering his classroom. I walked outside the room with him with this reminder to find out what it was that he wanted to communicate and what was important to him. Crayons. It was crayons. He wanted black and grey ones specifically. So we got him situated so that he could color and listen to his teacher at the same time. And when I tell you the art that came out of that little boy… talk about being a creative image bearer.

As I express my joy in seeing where God has led us the past few years and offer the hope of things still to come, I leave you with this challenge: What offering of connection have you made recently? Who have you shown your desire to know? How have you listened to the desires and interests of someone’s heart? You may be amazed how God uses that encouragement in their life. You may also be amazed at how He uses it in your own.

-Sandy Gromacki