A Family Christmas Outing

Most Sundays of late I've been a shut-in so to speak; not able to get to church. However ... not able to get to church is not the same as not being part of God's church family. It is just a season for the moment ... until circumstances change. I look forward to having my husband living at home permanently in a few more months. We have both sacrificed our togetherness for the time being to start a new chapter in our lives. A move that has been done in planned stages and transitions ... carefully laid out and blessed by God. So until he returns home permanently, to be my helpmate once again, I must rest in God's grace being content with our current situation (being the caretaker of our special needs son, Nathan). Nathan has issues that place a great burden on me in regards to getting to church. Having Down syndrome and some autistic traits I am unable to just head off to church on Sunday morning with him. Most churches do not have accommodations for such children. Big church is too bright and loud. Sunday school is too overstimulating and he needs a one to one aide just to keep an eye on him. A quiet room with books and a Bible story movie, two or three other children and a teacher is about as much as he can take. I have faith that God has plans and hubby and I can once again be in church fellowship that hopefully includes our son. Tonight I was reading the paper and saw that two local churches are having drive through nativities this weekend. Now this is something we can participate in as a family and bring Nathan along too. He will feel quite secure observing from the back seat of our truck. We've been reading the Christmas story about the birth of Christ to him from a simple little Golden Book. I'm sure he will make the connection as we drive through the church's parking lot and see Mary and Joseph ... the baby Jesus ... the manger scene ... and the live animals. Simple truth that Nathan can understand ... simple truth that a great percentage of people pass up.