From the Publisher
Praise for Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families
I am thrilled that this much-needed book, Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families, has ended up in your hands. The pages are filled with real people sharing their firsthand experiences within this community. These stories enlighten us on how to thrive in our special and sometimes complicated families. Chapman and Philo insightfully explain key biblical truths such as “hesed.” This book teaches practical ways to intentionally weave the five love language principles into our hearts to support this lifelong “hesed” commitment. I am so excited to share this book with our Church of the Highlands families!–Susan Pannell, Highlands Haven Director, Church of the Highlands
This book by Dr. Gary Chapman and Jolene Philo reminds us that every person is unique and has different needs. The five love languages provides a simple framework to understand that and respond to those we love. By sharing details specific to the lives of parents raising children with disabilities, it helps parents of individuals with disabilities realize they are not alone. There is also information that will help parents and families navigate life loving each other and raising and launching their sons and daughters with disabilities.–Anne Masters, MA, FAAIDD, Director, Pastoral Ministry with Persons with DisabilitiesArchdiocese of Newark
Gary and Jolene’s new book, Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families, lights the way for parents to find each other in the complex journey of raising a family when a child is diagnosed with a disability. The five love languages provides tender support to a spouse who’s managing practical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of raising a child with a disability and can be applied to other relationships—with the child, siblings, and extended family. Professionals will gain insights to better support families. Parents will appreciate the ease in which the love languages can become part of self-care and growth as they raise their families.–Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD, parent of a child with a disability and author of From Longing to Belonging—A Practical Guide to Including People with Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions in Your Faith Community
Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families is a true treasure for special needs families! It addresses not only our marital relationships but also how we relate to our children with disabilities and their siblings. This book is a resource to be referenced time and time again, providing valuable tools for ordinary families in extraordinary situations!–Arielle Hobbs, founder of The Lion League, a nonprofit organization supporting students with disabilities in elementary, middle, and high school
Wow! We wish we had this book when our son was young. As parents of a child with special needs, the first thing to suffer was our relationship with each other. The second area that suffered was our relationship with our “typical” son. In a time that carries additional stressors, our relationships with our family don’t need to suffer. The simple yet profound insights offered in this book will equip struggling families to thrive in life’s challenges! –Jonathan, MA, and Sarah McGuire MA, MS, founders of Hope Anew, which guides families impacted by special needs to Christ-centered hope and healing
As a special-needs sibling and parent, my family has been impacted by disability since the day I was born. This book from Dr. Chapman and Jolene is practical and encouraging, guiding families like mine in how to more effectively show love to each other. I’m thankful for such a comprehensive book that addresses not only how to love our children with disabilities in ways that are meaningful to them, but also our spouses and the typical children in our families. Whether you are new to the special-needs world or are a forty-year veteran like I am, this book will strengthen your family as you learn to give and receive love according to the love language you each speak.–Sandra Peoples, MDiv, author of Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family
"Learning your child has special needs can trigger so many fears and uncertainties: “What will life be like for my child? For me? What about medical care, education, my child's future?” Perhaps scariest of all, “Will my child be able to know how much I love them?” The answer to the last question is a resounding yes. In Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families, Gary and Jolene teach parents and caregivers how to communicate love in ways their children can understand. Encompassing a wide range of recommendations for children with different special needs, here you can learn how to unlock the love language your child already knows and root your relationship firmly in a foundation of love.–Elrena Evans, author, disability advocate, and editor and content specialists for Evangelicals for Social Action
Eighteen years ago, we were in over our heads, as a young married couple with a toddler and a newborn with special needs. Due to our son’s special needs, it took us months to connect with him in meaningful ways. Oh, I wish we had this book then! Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families combines Dr. Chapman’s five love languages with Jolene’s parental and educational experience to produce a must-have resource for families and ministry leaders.–Joe Butler, MA, founder and CEO of Ability Tree (www.abilitytree.org), an organization coming alongside families impacted by disability through recreation, education, support, and training
Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families is a must-have resource for all parents who have a child with special needs. So often as parents of a child with disabilities, we put our marriages on the back burner, and find ourselves struggling to keep it healthy and thriving. This book will help you discover your personal love language, as well as your mate’s. Equipped with this crucial understanding, you can implement the book’s practical advice on how to love your partner through their love language, in a way only a parent with a child with disabilities would understand. But it doesn’t stop there. It also helps parents figure out the love language of their child with disabilities and the unique ways we can show abundant love to them as we become fluent in their love language. I will be recommending this book to all of my families.–Amy Kendall, Disabilities Minister at Saddleback Church
