The Advocate

With the school year coming to a close and a transition to middle school as next on the horizon, I've been living in the world of 504 plan updates and accommodations.

Meetings. Emails. Conversations.
Trying to think ahead… trying to think around things… trying to envision all the what ifs to make sure my son has what he needs before he even knows he needs it.

If you’ve walked this road with a child who has ADHD (or any spectrum acronym), you know what I mean.

It’s not just about schoolwork. It’s about understanding how their brain works on a Tuesday that feels normal… and a Thursday that is just a little off. It’s about remembering that the child their teacher sees all day is not always the same child I see at home.

At school, he’s medicated. At home, he's not, or it's wearing off. At school, there are structures, rhythms, and systems. At home, there’s real life—transitions, distractions, responsibilities, emotions, and comfort (for the better or worse).

Both versions of him are real, and the reason navigating or assessing his needs can feel so complicated.

Because when you’re sitting in a meeting, and someone says,
“Well, he doesn’t seem to need that…”

You’re holding the tension of knowing:

He might not need it every day.
But when he needs it… he really needs it!

So we fight—gently, respectfully, persistently—to keep things in place. Not because something is wrong with him, but because we want to give him the best environment to succeed in the way he was created to learn.

It can feel overwhelming.

There are so many nuances to raising a child who is neurodivergent. So many small decisions that matter. So many moments where you feel like you need to explain something hard to put into words. 

I am incredibly grateful that I don’t have to do that alone.

I have a sister who has spent years in special education—someone who understands the system, who knows how to advocate, who can say the things I’m feeling but don’t always know how to articulate. AND, she knows my child. She’s my built-in advocate.

She helps me navigate the conversations and think clearly when I feel overwhelmed. She is often the last text I read as I walk into meetings about Wyatt. She helps make sure my son is seen—not just for who he is on his best days, but for who he is on the days that are a little more difficult too.

As I left his 504 middle school transition meeting this week, it was gratitude for her that I felt! I wondered how anyone navigates all the questions and accommodations without an advocate who knows a bigger picture than I do. As I thanked the Lord for her, he reminded me that I’ve been given an advocate in more ways than one.

Scripture confirms this truth.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.”
— John 14:16–17

Jesus said this, knowing He would no longer be physically present with His disciples. And instead of leaving them to figure it out on their own… He sent them help.

An Advocate.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
— John 14:26

I love that word—teach. Because just like my son… I don’t always get it right the first time, and not all of my days are my best. I don’t always understand what’s being asked of me. I don’t always respond the way I should. Some days are “on” days… and some days are just a little off. But the Holy Spirit meets me in all of it right where I am in any given moment, not just on my best days, but in the in-between.

In the moments when I don’t know what to say…

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.”
— Romans 8:26

In the moments when I don’t know what to do…

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
— Psalm 46:1

He is present.
He is personal.
He is aware of every nuance of my life.

Just like we fight to put the right accommodations in place for our children—so they can learn, grow, and thrive in the way they were created— God has already put the greatest support system in place for all of us.

His Spirit.

He guides us.
He teaches us.
He reminds us.
He advocates for us.

Not in a one-size-fits-all way. But in a deeply personal, individual, daily relationship.

I can’t help but think of the scriptures that affirm, if I work this hard to make sure my child has what he needs to succeed, how much more has the heavenly father already done for me?

So if you’re doing life right now, feeling overwhelmed… unsure… trying to navigate things that feel bigger than you…

You don’t have to do it alone.

You have an Advocate.

 

Where in your life do you feel like you’re trying to figure things out on your own—and what would it look like to invite the Holy Spirit into that space as your helper and guide?

 

Lord, thank You for not leaving me to navigate life on my own. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit—my helper, my teacher, my advocate. Help me to rely on You more fully in the places where I feel overwhelmed or uncertain. Teach me to listen, to trust, and to walk in step with You each day. Amen.

 

Until next time, keep following the Plott, and I will be praying for us all. 💛