About the Episode

This episode is part of the series “I Don’t Know How Special-Needs Families Survive Without…” where caregivers share the one thing they believe makes survival possible.

In this conversation, Susan Lomax speaks vulnerably about a season marked by deep grief after losing both her mother and mother-in-law, while continuing to care for her adult son with autism and support her grieving father. She shares how grief shows up unexpectedly in everyday life and how survival sometimes meant simply staying present, moment by moment.

Susan reveals her answer to the series question: creativity. Through music, journaling, doodling, and crochet, she found grounding, peace, and a way to reconnect with herself beyond the caregiver role. For Susan, creativity is not a luxury—it is a lifeline, an act of worship, and a vital tool for mental, emotional, and spiritual survival.

This episode offers hope and permission for special-needs parents to take even five minutes to create, reminding them that they are still people, still here, and still worthy of care.

Related Links

Respite for Your Mind

Moment of Reflection:

And now for this week’s moment of reflection.

Susan challenged all of us to take a moment for creativity and beauty—even if it’s only five minutes a day. So this week, let’s accept that challenge and see where we can make space, even for just a few minutes to create something or to discover something beautiful in God’s creation.

Carrie Holt: I don’t know how special needs families survive without…

🎉 Milestone Episode: 300 Episodes of Rising Above 🎉

In this meaningful milestone episode, Becky Davidson is joined by Carrie Holt for the second conversation in the series “I Don’t Know How Special Needs Families Survive Without…”. Carrie’s answer is both honest and essential: processing grief and lamenting.

Parenting a child with disabilities often carries layers of ongoing, unspoken grief—grief that doesn’t always come from a single loss, but from continual adjustments, unmet expectations, and the weight of long-term caregiving. In this episode, Becky and Carrie create space to name those realities with compassion and faith.

Together, they explore how grief shows up in the lives of special needs parents, why acknowledging it matters, and how lament can become a sacred practice rather than something to avoid. Carrie shares how lament is not a lack of faith, but a form of worship—an honest, biblical way of bringing pain, questions, and sorrow before God while remaining anchored in hope.

This conversation also offers practical encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or unsure how to begin processing their grief. Becky and Carrie discuss the importance of community support, permission to feel what you feel, and the ongoing work of reorienting the heart toward God’s presence in the midst of suffering.

Whether you are navigating fresh loss, long-term grief, or emotions you’ve never quite had words for, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that hope can coexist with sorrow.

• Why grief is an ongoing reality for many special needs parents
• The difference between suppressing grief and processing it
• How lament functions as a biblical and spiritual practice
• Why bringing honest pain to God strengthens faith rather than weakens it
• Practical ways to begin naming and navigating grief
• The role of community and shared understanding
• How hope can be held alongside deep sorrow

Thank you for being part of the Rising Above community for 300 episodes. This milestone is a reflection of shared stories, resilience, and the reminder that even in the hardest places, we rise—together.

Related Links

“There is no Yet Study”

Dustin Rawls: I don’t know how special needs families survive without...

About the series

This January, Rising Above with Becky Davidson launches a brand-new series called “I Don’t Know How Special Needs Families Survive Without…”—and we’re kicking it off with a powerful conversation featuring Dustin Rawls, dad to his teenage daughter Madison, who has spina bifida.

In this episode, Dustin opens up about the realities of raising a teenager with special needs—the challenges, the laughter, and the moments that stretch your faith to its limits. He shares how his journey as a father has shaped his relationship with God, walking through seasons of doubt, surrender, and deep spiritual growth.

Becky and Dustin talk about the role faith plays in their family, the importance of discipleship at home, and the unexpected ways God shows up in everyday moments. Dustin also shares a meaningful story involving Madison that reminded him of God’s peace and presence when life felt overwhelming.

So what is Dustin’s answer to the question, “I don’t know how special needs families survive without…”? You’ll have to listen to find out, but his response is honest, hope-filled, and deeply encouraging.

Whether you’re part of a special needs family or simply walking through a hard season, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone—and that faith can transform even the most challenging journeys.

Moment of Reflection

Dustin shared so honestly about how Jesus has transformed his life—and how that transformation doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a process. Sanctification is ongoing, and when we really allow Jesus to change our hearts, our lives begin to look different over time. Who we are today shouldn’t look the same as who we were five years ago. And with God’s grace, five years from now, we’ll look even more like Jesus than we do today.

So, now for this week’s moment of reflection. I want to invite you to sit with this question for a moment: Am I allowing Jesus to transform my life? Does my life reflect Jesus more than it did five or ten years ago?

And if the answer feels like “not really” or “I’m not sure, spend some time asking what might you need to surrender? What space in your life might Jesus be gently asking you to open up so He can continue that work in you?