The Life We Never Expected: Hopeful Reflections on the Challenges of Parenting Children with Special Needs

Book Description:

Sometimes life throws you a curveball.

Andrew and Rachel Wilson know what it means to live a life they never expected. As the parents of two children with special needs, their story mingles deep pain with deep joy in unexpected places. With raw honesty, they share about the challenges they face on a daily basis-all the while teaching what it means to weep, worship, wait, and hope in the Lord.

Offering encouragement rooted in God's Word, this book will help you cling to Jesus and fight for joy when faced with a life you never expected.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Russell D. Moore
First Cycle Weeping: The Orange Worshiping: The Call to Sacrifice Waiting: The True Battle Witnessing: Individualitis and the Dung Gate And Breathe: The Special-Needs Beatitudes (What Jesus Might Have Said)
Second Cycle Weeping: Lament Worshiping: Fighting for Joy Waiting: The Quest for Rest Witnessing: Children as a Blessing And Breathe: Joy Fuel
Third Cycle Weeping: The Unresolved Why? Worshiping: Thankfulness in a World of Entitlement Waiting: The Storyteller Witnessing: The New Ordinary And Breathe: One Boy and His Dog
Fourth Cycle Weeping: Handling Grief Worshiping: Learning to Prayer Waiting: Some Reflections on Healing Witnessing: Questions and Answers And Breathe: The Survival Zone
Fifth Cycle Weeping: A Note to Friends and Relatives Worshiping: Faith in Future Grace Waiting: Daydreaming about Eternity Witnessing: Marriage on Fire And Breathe: Some Helpful Resources

Author:

Andrew and Rachel Wilson are the authors of The Life We Never Expected: Hopeful Reflections on the Challenges of Parenting Children with Special Needs and have two children, Zeke and Anna. Andrew is the teaching pastor at King's Church London and a columnist for Christianity Today.

Endorsements:

"Weeping, worshiping, waiting, witnessing, and breathing. These are the constant rhythms of my life as a parent to a son with autism. These are also the rhythms of Andrew and Rachel Wilson's life, beautifully and delicately illustrated in The Life We Never Expected. The Wilsons have managed to do what no other authors have-provide me with clear, promising hope as a special-needs parent and allow me the sacred practice of saying, 'Me, too.' Profoundly moving and deeply rooted in the love of Jesus, this book is exactly what I needed. It is a tremendous gift." - Nish Weiseth, speaker; author, Speak: How Your Story Can Change the World

"This is a sweet and touching book-a testimony of parents' love for their special, vulnerable children, and an extended meditation on the nature of the suffering that is part of the Christian life. Andrew and Rachel write with frank honesty and a sensitivity to biblical teaching about the expectations for life in a fallen world. I hope this little book will bring wise comfort to other parents facing similar challenges." - Carl R. Trueman, Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary; author, The Creedal Imperative and Luther on the Christian Life

Additional Information: