Emancipation: freeing someone from the control of another; especially a parent’s relinquishing authority and control over a minor child.
Dear Paul,
Eighteen years ago today, a boy was born. More specifically, YOU were born.
And my journey from slavery to freedom began.
The day of your birth was not a happy one for me; disability was not part of my plan. I’m ashamed at the memory of my thoughts from that day.
But here you were: blind, helpless, needy, entirely dependent on parents who didn’t understand your world.
Foolishly, I did not trust the promises of God, which I had been taught since I was a child. I went my own way.
Even this was part of God’s plan.
At the right moment, God breathed life into me:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7, ESV)
My son, you are still blind, helpless, needy, entirely dependent on your parents who don’t understand your world. Over time we added autism, cognitive impairments, epilepsy and more. It has not been easy for any of us.
But God understands your world. He made you for a great purpose, or 10,000 purposes. God has kindly let me see a few of them.
And God is happy to provide help every day, for you and for me. That is exactly what he has done for the past 6,575 days of your life. I expect God will do it again tomorrow. He promised he would.
I am your guardian, responsible for all decisions concerning your life and health. You don’t seem to mind. From that standpoint, today is like every other day of your life.
But in a tangible way you are my champion, the very means through whom God called me to himself. Maybe someday Jesus will tell us the stories of how he used you to change people all over the world. Or maybe that won’t be important any longer because we’ll be so happy to be with him. Either way, we’ll be happy!
So, today you may not be emancipated as other 18-year-old young men will be.
But you live a mostly contented life. You do not worry about tomorrow. You do not hold grudges from past wrongs. You expect your needs will be met today.
You are free in ways most people can only dream about, in ways I long for. Your happy confidence in your parents isn’t warranted, but it is a great picture of how I should trust our Father-God. I’m glad for that picture. And I’m glad to have you.
Happy birthday, son! Daddy loves you very, very much!
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, ESV)
The Works of God 
its amazing he knows what praying is 🙂
John thanks for posting this. I have been greatly blessed over the last year of so of subscribing to your blog, this is once again a huge blessing. By God’s grace over the last year or two God has convinced me of whatever church I pastor in the future (I am a pastor in training right now) there will be a huge ministry focus on both people with disabilities and their special parents/guardians who care for them. God does not make mistakes!
What a beautiful testimony of our gracious Lord showing Himself as our all-sufficient Provider and Father to us all. We are all blind, naked, and needy from birth; but WE are the ones “blinded” to that truth at times. It seems God has given you all spiritual eyes to see more clearly than most physically seeing people can. Praise Him! He uses the weak things of this world to shame the strong!
And what a beautiful singing voice Paul has!! Absolutely perfect pitch! Music to Jesus’ ears. Can’t wait to praise the Father together in heaven!!
Beautiful post and beautiful son. 🙂
I recently wrote a parable from the perspective of a father in regards to his crippled son on my prayerbits blog. This letter reminded me of the parable. I thought I’d pass it along.
http://prayerbitsblog.org/2013/07/04/the-cripple-a-parable/
Blessings ~ Jonathan
Thank you for posting this…. a very beautiful message & a wonderful testimony!To God be all the glory!
Happy birthday Paul!
Happy birthday from the Hornings! We love you, Paul. We thank God for your life and the privilege to know you and your family.
Lovely! Happy Birthday Paul!
Wow. That just brought me up close and personal with my own Father. What a humbling, beautiful post. Happy Birthday Paul!
I was just listening to this song when I read this article!
http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1997466
I remember reading your blog post several years back that you published on this very day, which I believe was titled, “Real Freedom in Jesus.” It was one of the most encouraging, God-exalting posts I had read. I came back to it occasionally through the years for strength, when my valleys were too deep and my sins seemingly too entrenched. For whatever reason, however, the post was taken down. I’m glad you’re sharing your stories with us. Keep us updated on Paul; he’s a beautiful picture of dependence on our Lord, and you’re an encouragement to the rest of us. Thank you for displaying the freedom of Christ practically in your family’s lives.
Beautiful…
Clicked over here from a link on John Piper’s Facebook page. What an awesome testimony. We have a 19 year old autistic daughter. She has taught me much about God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. May God bless you richly! And happy birthday to Paul!
Very encouraging piece; thanks John. Happy birthday Paul!
Paul’s life and the Knight journey have made profound, profound impact on my life. I am SO thankful for the grace and discipline God has kindly afforded me through all of you.
K
We have just begun a journey with our 6 year old autistic daughter. Your post here is evidence of God’s words breathing through you. The clip of your song singing “Lamb of God” is the very precious gift of God showering HIs grace on your son for His praise. So amazing. Thank you for teaching us – and of course God be the Glory!
Praise God again and again! Reading this post and learning of Paul through Pastor Piper has just brought tears of thankfulness and joy to me. What an encouragement testimony! I thank you Mr. John for sharing it because I too live with a disability and am so encouraged by Paul’s testimony! I have been emancipated in ways that Paul will not be as a young man, but he is so much more free than I am in ways that matter. As I continue on a journey towards true emancipation and freedom in Christ it is a blessing to know of a testimony like Paul’s and to be encouraged 2 truly trust God with my all! Amen!
Oh yes, a big Happy Birthday to Paul and continued blessing to him, his family, and his church family! This is nothing less than the heart of God!
John,
I feel your pain and share in the glory of God’s love in Amd through the innocent acceptance of life that somehow cannot be seen as clearly through my eyes as it is through the eyes of my 15 yr old autistic daughter. Her vision unimpaired though plagued with daily seizures. She is non verbal yet her eyes speak paragraphs of truth that I cannot seem to comprehend though I try.
Praise God for your dedication and love of your son. Praise God for the innocence that is clear to see in my autistic child’s blind faith. If only I had grasp of the Holy Spirit The way Haley does. Perhaps my struggle would leave me understanding the Lilly’s of the field in the way God intended. There is much to learn though my knowledge of Gods beauty is Great . Greater still is the glory of what is to come after this life’s struggles. Praise God there is a way out of this beautiful mess. I rest in the promises of God and toil day to day with what comes next. For our battle is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
It is good for us to recognize pure innocence in our children. Especially those children who are touched by God in ways That make pure love easy to visualize. May we stop and smell the roses. May we see the innocence and mirror the simplest love of our special children to Christ Jesus. He wants us to approach him in a way that is so familiar, yet so foreign.
Happy birthday to your special love sir and happy Father’s Day to you. Stay strong soldier.
Jim. “Your brother in Christ”