Jeff, Bethany, and I settled in our seats, with a mega bucket of popcorn and drinks, escaping the heat of the day to enjoy the newly released movie- FINDING DORY. (sequel to Finding Nemo)

Warning- Total Spoiler- Don’t read if you don’t want to know 🙂

Finding Nemo was BB (Before Bethany 😉 ) so the message of special needs and disability didn’t really stand out to me at that time.  Our kids related to Nemo; the spunky, little fish with a shriveled fin.

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As a parent, and being a bit overprotective myself, I related more to Marlin- Nemo’s Dad. He had made it his mission in life to protect his son! His cautionary wisdom made sense to me- until Dory spoke a simple, yet profound truth:

Sigh.  Protective is one thing-over protective is counter-productive. We can’t never let anything happen to them.

[Tweet “Our #Father God allows challenges and difficulties in our lives to help us #grow. #transformation”]

I was unprepared for the flood of emotions that Finding Dory stirred up in me.

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I put my arm around Bethie during the flashback scene when we meet Dory as a little fish. (adorable)

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Tears welled up as I watched her parents teach her rhymes to help her remember important things, { “When we see the undertow/we say, ‘Don’t go!’ ”}. playing games with her to give her social skills, affirming their love and acceptance of her- in spite of her “short term remembery loss” 🙂  and equipping her to thrive in the vast world around her.

“I am part of a wonderful tribe,” I thought. “Special Needs Parents” have got to be some of the most diligent, resilient, creative, hope beyond hope people in the whole world.”

Here are some of the lessons Dory’s parents taught her:

[Tweet “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Phil 4:13 MSG”]

Dory’s dad, Charlie, taught his daughter, Dory,  (who was born “memory challenges”)- this beautiful truth-

“When something is too hard, there’s always another way.” 

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If that doesn’t describe our journey in the land of special needs- I don’t know what does!!!!

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I loved that Dory’s friends were Destiny– a whale shark with poor eyesight, Bailey, a Beluga whose head injury fritzed his echolocation abilities, Nemo, a clown fish with a deformed fin, and Hank– a scaredy cat seven tentacled octopus.

My anxiety morphed as Dory grew more desperate to find “home”. After an incredible journey of mishaps and adventures, she spies a shell- and then another shell- and another.  She remembers how her parents always told her to “follow the shells home.”  Dory swims frantically, following the shells, stopping suddenly when she at last- arrives home. (happy tears 🙂 )

Reunited at last! As they talk and hug, the scene begins panning out, I choked up as I saw the multitudes of sea shell paths leading home.  Charlie and Janet had stayed put- building sea shell paths every day, in every direction, believing Dory would remember- and  eventually find her way home.

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 That was the pinnacle moment for me.

I can’t think of anything more frightening to me- as a parent of a child with down syndrome: the possibility of my child having to navigate the world alone. This fear is what drives me: the need to give Bethany the “extra” everything; build confidence, knowledge, discernment, skills, safety, and understanding of the world around her.

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My thoughts shifted.

I wonder: is that how my heavenly Father feels as He watches over me with my extrememe “remembery loss”??????? I like to relate to Charlie and Janet but maybe I’m more like Dory than I know!

I get so distracted by life- waylaid by worries- forgetful of my real home-

But God- has generously and sacrificially given me so much to help me navigate this world; His Word, His presence, His unconditional love, and most of all Jesus who has secured my way home to Him.

Like Dorie’s parents, my Good, good Father-has made the Way- and has laid out millions of shells knowing I’ll follow them home.

Surprising Treasures: [Tweet “I love those who love Me. Those eagerly looking for Me will find Me. #God Proverbs 8:17”]