The fine people of Portage Free Methodist Church have brought about a small miracle in our basement: Lexi’s Room. Lexi, our 8 year old with special needs, certainly likes to enjoy life with a good shout, laugh, or kick of her feet — even at 2:30AM. Proximity being a big part of hearing, we have often found ourselves wondering about what it would take to line her bedroom walls with acoustic tiles, with me going as far as seriously considering taping mattresses up. The mind conjures strange solutions at 2:30 in the morning.

Somehow, the situation found itself in the general conversation of the people at PFM.  As the old song goes: it only takes a spark to get a fire going, especially the kind of fire that leads to an egress window. “If you’re getting an egress window, we’ll obviously put the wall over here” and “if you’re getting a wall, we might as well put padding under the carpet so that it’s comfortable.” People have donated money, materials, and the time and knowledge to put it all together. One Saturday, not too long ago, a morning shrubbery on the side of the house was magically transformed into an afternoon window well that will make any building inspector happy. New lights, new walls, new closet, new flooring. And it’s all for our baby girl. The project is called “Lexi’s room” because that’s what it is — a place for her to be who she needs to be, without our party crashing by insisting on sleep. Such killjoys we are.

My family is overwhelmed. In essence, a congregation is making a room for our special-needs daughter. Out of their goodwill. Out of their desire to help. It is often simply too much to think about. How much more evidence of God’s provision could we possibly need?

What do you offhandedly wish? That Lexi could sleep downstairs?

Oh.
Consider it done.

Now THAT’S what I call pastoral care.

Thanks, PFM. We praise the Lord for you.