Down Syndrome, Suffering, and Grace

A recent study says that ninety-two percent of women who discover they are carrying a child with Down syndrome opt to abort the pregnancy.

I am not a parent, much less a parent of a child who will have a lifelong disability.  I can only imagine the feelings and thoughts that contribute to this 'choice'.  I imagine that fear of the unknown plays a role, for many of these parents who make this choice do not know people with Down syndrome.  I imagine that people are fearful of financial strain and the extra challenges that families with Down syndrome face.  I imagine, though, mostly a fear of suffering is involved.

For what parent wants to have his or her child suffer?  And, truth be told, men, women, and children with Down syndrome do suffer.  Oh, not to the terrible degree that doctors have described to parents since before Down syndrome even had a name, while convincing them to institutionalize their children in the past or abort them nowadays.  In fact, even while sharing with me their painful struggles related to their disability and the hurt and pain caused by mistreatment and abuse inflicted by others upon them, often, the men and women I have known with Down syndrome do not view themselves as having suffered any more than anyone else.   But it is a myth that people with Down syndrome are happier than other people.  

It's interesting.  From the world's view, while the purpose of suffering is debatable and the origin often ignored, the answer to suffering always seems to be to end it- even if the way to end it involves ending the life of the one that is suffering.   

Suffering seems to be a potent force in the lives of believers, as well.  For some, suffering seems to turn them away from God, from even the very idea of God, in frustration and mistrust.  While for others, suffering seems to be the cause for hoping in God for answers and comfort.

I do not have all the answers for suffering nor all the answers for those who will soon parent a child with Down syndrome.  God gives many answers in Scripture, but I haven't found them all.  But I have found some.

I am convinced that suffering exists, for instance, because it is a natural consequence to sin having entered the world.  But I am also convinced that God is a God of redemption, Who not only forgives sinners, but redeems the suffering sin has inflicted upon us.  Romans 8:28 says that God works all things for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.

This includes Down syndrome.  For those who are saved, God works Down syndrome for good.

It is very, very true that people with Down syndrome and their families will face hardships unique to that particular developmental disability.  But it is also true that for those families and people with Down syndrome, God's grace will be made perfect in that weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)  It is easy to see the lows and the struggles that Down syndrome will bring.  But soon to be parents have no idea the grace and mercy that God will bring to them through their child.  

Nor do we, the Church, realize what we are missing when we are missing children and adults with Down syndrome in our congregations.  People with Down syndrome have unique gifts and callings that the Church needs- many that have nothing to do with their Down syndrome, for people with Down syndrome are so much more than their disability!  And we are certainly missing the way God brings redemption to Down syndrome and the good He causes through it.

So, this second to last paragraph is more an exhortation to myself, since I have been lacking in this area, but feel free to receive it for yourself, also.  Instead of simply condemning parents who are considering the choice to terminate the life of their unborn child who has Down syndrome, embrace those parents before the choice has been made and make room for them and their child in the Church.  And for those parents who have already made that tragic, sinful choice to abort, as God calls them to repentance, offer them the grace and mercy of the Cross that has been offered to you.  Forgive them and love them.

Down syndrome is in itself not a gift.  But, as all 'syndromes', sicknesses, and disabilities, when redeemed by the Redeemer, Down syndrome becomes a way that the very glory of God is revealed.