I recently read about a report from the American Journal on Mental Retardation with research about the divorce rates among families with a Down syndrome child.

The research, which took place over a 12 year period (1990-2002), indicates the divorce rate among families with a Down syndrome child was lower than the divorce rate among other groups. The other groups studied included one group in which there was no disability among children in the families and one group that included families with children who had birth defects other than Down syndrome.

That’s right, the divorce rate among families with a Down syndrome child was lower than the divorce rate among families having children with no known birth defects. These findings seem to contradict the conventional wisdom about families with a Down syndrome child and give hope to parents who have a precious son or daughter with Down syndrome.

I have been contemplating the results of this study for some time now. Each time I consider the findings my mind goes off in a different direction. Somehow, I always seem to come back to the same place in scripture.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).