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ProvidingNewsandViewsformorethan30yearsFoxPharmacy,HGHair&Page25theRennieGrovePeaceCharityShop.BAPTISTCHURCHUPDATEAs Pastor at the Baptistchurch, I am personally really excited about the initiative shared below. Please do think about whether you would like tohelp or indeed would find this opportunity helpful for a child you have or know.Please spread the word.BlessingsAnthony(PastorHolmerGreenBaptistChurch)==================================I am sitting here on a very damp and dreary Sunday afternoon wondering which words to use to spread the news about a very exciting project that will hopefully bring some light and joy to a group of hidden young people in our community.Chapter 9, verses 1-3 in the book of John, tells the story of Jesus healing a man born blind.An interesting conversation takes placewhich resonates deeply with our family.%u2018As he passed by, he sawamanblindfrombirth.Andhisdisciplesasked him, %u201cRabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?%u201d3 Jesus answered, %u201cItwas not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.%u2019Just think about these words for a moment and reflect on howthis represents current day society. We can label and judge those around us without stopping and thinking the effect this has.The naughty child having a %u2018tantrum%u2019; the teenager lashing out;bad choices in language; insolence of the ones who won%u2019t respond; the shy one who doesn%u2019t speak up; the rude one who won%u2019t maintain eye contact; the queue jumper who pushes to the front of the toilet line%u2026the list goes on.It was until very recently that %u2018naughty or %u2018dumb%u2019 children weremade to sit in the corner of the classroom with a dunce%u2019s cap on their head or that left-handed people had their hands tied behind their back to learn to write with their %u2018right hand.%u2019Thankfully, times have changed and continue to change but there is still so much more to do to show these individuals who don%u2019t fit society%u2019s %u2018normal%u2019 label that they shouldbeembraced,nurtured,celebratedbutmost importantlysupportedtobetheamazingindividuals that they are.We are blessed to be parents of a quick witted, sensitive, animal loving, performance and all things arts loving 10 year old.However, she finds life hard.She likes to learn in a different way to that advocated of our school system, and having to conform and fit in takes its toll on all.You see, she is also that %u2018naughty child%u2019 having a tantrum whothinks nothing of hurting those who are close toheror herself.Sheis thatchild who can%u2019tregulate her emotions and who%u2019s brain goes into fight mode whenshe hears the word %u2018no.%u2019As a parent this is both frustrating and heart breaking.We love her with all our hearts, even though at times this canbe tested to it%u2019s full.After a diagnosis of ADHD and Autism as wellas separation anxiety, her world suddenly made sense.To her, feeling normal is a snow globe fullof glitter flying aroundwith everyonetelling hertomake it settle but it won%u2019t because it keeps being shaken up.For me, normal a few years ago was having a hidden colostomy bag and people swearing atmebecauseIhad adisabled toiletkey.Thereis no %u2018normal%u2019 and trying to conform in itself is not %u2018normal.%u2019We are all individuals on our own pathsand what we have to do is find the right path forus that serves ourselves and our community in the best possible way that we know how.Wearefortunateinthatourdaughterisableto communicate with us on calm days how she%u2019s feeling.She asked me one day why her friends don%u2019t get her, how she knows she can be annoying or stubborn but that%u2019s just her brain refusing to letgo of ideas or opinions.She asked how she could make friends like her and who would understand.So that%u2019s where we decided to pick ourselves upand do something proactive to bring her wish to life.We%u2019ve searched for groups where we can goas a family; where she%u2019d feel safe and able to be herself (and dare I say flourish); where we wouldn%u2019t be judged; where we wouldn%u2019t be lectured at,but mainly where we could just %u2018be.%u2019Then itdawned on me, every Sunday we attend the most amazingsafespace,whereourdaughterishappyto go off and share her love of play and learning. Where we%u2019re all accepted and where she has absolutely flourished.We approached our Pastor about the idea of starting a group for children with Hidden Disabilities (although I%u2019d rather call it Hidden abilities) and he was onboard from the get go.The support and love that we have received from our church family as well as the wider community who are nowstarting to talkabout their own experiences has been overwhelming.We are truly blessed.So,Iambeyond excitedtoannouncethatstarting in January 2025, on the last Saturday of every month, between 10am and 12pm the doors of Holmer Green Baptist Church will be open for 714 year olds with hiddendisabilities to come along and justbe.Therewillbecalmspaces,creativespaces, noisy spaces, whatever they want and need and for theparentsaspacetohaveacuppainasafespace, knowing that they can share and be reassured or just vent to others who understand %u2013no therapists or workshops are involved.Please spread the word and let%u2019s make this happen for this community and my promise to you all is that if the demand is out there to make this happenmoreoftenthanmonthlyorfurtherafieldthen I will help to drive it.There are thousands of our family out there and for at least the littlest member, her wish has been granted.God has answered her prayers and hopefully those of many more to come.Ifyouareinterestedincomingalong,volunteering, or would like more information, please don%u2019t hesitate in contacting anthony@holmergreenbaptist.org.uk.BlessingstoyouallKerriFabre(tired,exhaustedbutexcited!)