SINGLE MAMAS SEEN Meet Lisa Cantrell

BY CHRISTINA MCGAIRK

When I started my Single Mamas column, I knew I wanted to provide a glimpse of my life and the lives of other single mamas raising exceptional needs kids and adults. I also believe us single moms can learn from other moms, no matter their marital status.

One of the moms that I look up to and who inspires me is Lisa Cantrell. She is a wife and mother of 5, including her teenage daughter, Monet, who is on the autism spectrum.

Cantrell is the kind of person who lights up the room as soon as she walks in. The kind of woman who uplifts your spirit when you’re in her presence. Her warmth and smile put everyone at ease. Yet, like most people, life as a wife and mother can have its challenges.

As I mentioned in my earlier column, Christian music is what I turn to as a source of strength and comfort. Worship time, especially, is a time when I surrender all my cares and worries up to God.

Cantrell, who is on the Heartland Church worship team in Fishers, shares her worship experience and how it gives her the strength to meet the needs of her autistic daughter.

What does worship mean to you? Worship is where I find a deep connection to God. It is where I find peace and perspective in God.

How do you live the lifestyle of worship? I live the lifestyle of worship by being obedient to God and serving others.

How long has worship been a part of your life? Worship has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Although obedience and acts of service to others are my worship, also music and praising God play a huge part in my posture in worship. As a baby, my mother played worship and praise music all day long in our home. The lyrics and music would set the atmosphere each day for each task that we had to handle. God’s presence would go before us and this is what got us through the day!!

As my parents & family demonstrated worship by setting the tone for each day with worship and honor toward God;

This equipped us with power to withstand the hard things that we had to face at any given time. Praise to God was an everyday weapon that we use to combat the enemy and withstand each hard trial.

Has there been a time when worship was difficult for you? How did you deal with it? One of my most difficult but rewarding tasks in life is raising a daughter who has autism. She was diagnosed at the age of 4 1/2, she is 16 years old now. I had never seen autism and did not know how to care for her in the beginning. But what I can say is singing worship to God while holding her close to my chest was very soothing for her and calmed her spirit almost instantly. We both found out quickly that singing worship songs took our mind, body & soul to a peaceful place. I give God all praise for that!!! Because we really had some rough patches to overcome.

Do you have any advice for single Moms raising kids with exceptional needs and how worship can play a part? My advice to a single mom raising a special needs kid and how worship can play a huge part in your daily routine and constant curve balls are:

1. Worship puts you in a posture of thanksgiving to God. The Bible tells us to give thanks in all things. This helps me to forget about the “Why me, Lord”.

2. When you are in worship mode, this helps you stay in a clear head space (a sound mind) so that you can stay strong and have the strength to deal with each task as they come.

3. When I worship God in spirit and truth, I understand how much I need God to handle each day with my special needs child. I realize that when I get quiet and really hear God speak to my spirit it lets me know just what to do. When I’m overwhelmed, I look to Jesus. Jesus became my comfort and peace. This is how I make it through each day. It’s like my medicine. I can’t do without it. You should try it!!

***Readers, do you have a story about how worship helped you while raising a child with exceptional needs? If so, please share at christina.mcgairk@gmail.com