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?

Episode Title

Jesus Stories: Becky Davidson

Episode Description

In this week’s episode, our host Becky Davidson shares her very own Jesus story as we wrap up the “Jesus Stories” series and close out 2025 on the show. In an honest conversation, Becky opens up about her journey of faith, resilience, and what it has meant to truly know Jesus—not just as a story, but as a living presence in her life.

Growing up in middle Tennessee, church was always part of Becky’s routine, but it wasn’t until adulthood that her faith became deeply personal. Through life-altering moments—including the birth of her son, Jon Alex, and the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Jeff—Becky found herself leaning on Jesus in new and profound ways. These seasons of joy and sorrow reshaped her understanding of faith and revealed the strength found in trusting God through uncertainty.

Becky’s story is a powerful reminder that faith doesn’t require all the answers—it simply invites us to trust, to lean in, and to walk closely with Jesus through every season. Her testimony offers hope, encouragement, and reassurance to anyone facing life’s challenges.

Join us for this meaningful finale as we reflect on faith, community, and resilience—and celebrate the transformative power of a life anchored in Jesus.

Related Links

Messages from Jeff - Download the app!

✨ Subscribe now so you don’t miss future episodes filled with inspiring stories and faith-filled conversations.

Title: Jesus Stories- Steve Chatman

About the Episode:

In this week’s episode of Rising Above with Becky Davidson, the Jesus Stories series continues with a conversation featuring Steve Chatman. Steve shares his personal Jesus story and reflects on the ways Jesus has been present through both the joyful and challenging seasons of his life. His experiences offer a thoughtful reminder of Jesus’ faithfulness, even in moments that feel overwhelming or uncertain.

About Steve

Steve and his wife, Lori, are parents to five children and grandparents to three. As parents to two daughters with Down syndrome, they have long been connected to the special needs community. Steve has been ministering to families since 1993, serves as Rising Above’s Vice President, and hosts the Rising Above Dads podcast.

Related Links

Rising Above Dads podcast

Moment of Reflection

Steve talked about how there are moments when it feels like Jesus isn’t there—but just like when Jesus was in the boat with His disciples during the storm, He is with us. Even though Jesus was asleep and the disciples were frustrated and felt like He didn’t care… He was still right there in the boat.

So now, for our moment of reflection: Where in your life have you felt like Jesus is “asleep in the boat”? Where has He felt distant?

Take some time to invite Jesus into those places. Ask Him to show you how He’s been present—even if you couldn’t see it at the time.

Title:

Jesus Stories- Mikayla McKenzie

About the Episode:

This episode of the Jesus Stories series features a meaningful and insightful conversation with Mikayla McKenzie. Mikayla and her husband, Brandon, have been married for 11 years and have three children—Bear (8), Daisy (5), and Georgia (3). Their family recently made a bold move to Maryville, Tennessee, to plant a church, and Mikayla shares how God has guided and provided for them throughout that transition.

The episode also walks through the McKenzies’ journey with their son Bear, who has profound special needs and complex medical challenges, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and deafness. In the past year, he has had more than 20 hospital stays and undergone over five surgeries. Mikayla offers a clear, honest perspective on navigating ongoing hardship while remaining rooted in faith.

If you’re looking for a story that is both real and encouraging, this episode offers a thoughtful look at resilience, trust, and God’s steady presence in every season.

Related Links:

Restore Retreat Experience

Moment of Reflection:

And now for this week’s Moment of Reflection.

Mikayla talked about seeing God’s goodness in ways that may look different from what the world would consider “good.” As special-needs parents, it can be challenging to see the good in the hard we face each day, but God’s goodness isn’t limited to easy moments or tidy outcomes. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet ways He sustains us, the peace that slips in when we’re exhausted, the people He places around us, or the strength we didn’t know we had.

So take a moment to pause today. Where have you seen God’s goodness — even if it looked different than you expected? What small glimmers of grace showed up in your week?

Jesus Stories- Sandy Ramsey Trayvick

About the Episode

In the second installment of the Jesus Stories series, Becky Davidson welcomes back longtime friend Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick for a deeply personal conversation about faith, resilience, and the unexpected ways God meets us in our hardest seasons.

Sandy shares the profound journey of raising her son Miles, whose complex health and developmental challenges became the catalyst for a deeper, more intimate walk with God. Through honest reflections and tender storytelling, Sandy and Becky explore the beauty that can emerge from adversity—how pain can lead to spiritual growth, how God shows up in moments of fear and uncertainty, and how joy can be found in the most unlikely places.

Together, they remind us that no family’s story is beyond God’s redemption and that even the most disrupted dreams can reveal His faithfulness. This episode offers encouragement, hope, and a powerful reminder that you are never alone on your journey.

About Sandy: Sandy and her husband of 33 years live in New Jersey and are parents to three young adult children. Her journey as a special-needs mom, caregiver, and advocate began 24 years ago after her son’s childhood illness left him multiply disabled. Today, Sandy serves as a Certified Professional Coach with a passion for helping special needs parents discover the powerful story God is writing through their own unique journeys. She is also a writer and the author of When Dreams Are Disrupted – A Story of God’s Faithfulness.

Learn more about Sandy, her work, and her blog at www.UNDisabledLIVES.org and on Instagram @undisabled_lives.

Related Links:

Even If

Moment of Reflection:

Sandy talked about the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually having a relationship with Him. It’s easy to be familiar with Scripture or understand who Jesus is in theory, but that’s not the same as engaging with Him in the real, practical parts of life. Relationship shows up in how we trust Him, how we respond to challenges, and how we invite Him into our everyday decisions and emotions.

Ask yourself… Where am I relying more on information about Jesus than on true connection with Him? What area of my life—good or hard—needs His involvement right now? And what small step toward deeper relationship can I take this week?

Episode Title:

Jesus Stories: Carrie M. Holt

About the Episode:

In this conversation, Becky Davidson and Carrie M. Holt explore the profound impact of faith on their lives, sharing personal stories of childhood, struggles with identity, and the challenges of parenting a child with special needs. They discuss the importance of recognizing Jesus' humanity, the hope of heaven, and the encouragement needed for parents facing difficult times. Through their experiences, they emphasize the significance of community, trust in God, and the journey of wrestling with faith amidst adversity.

Related Links:

Messages from Jeff

Moment of Reflection:

Carrie shared something so powerful—how easy it is to make our faith transactional. You know, that mindset of ‘If I do this, then God will do that.’ It sounds simple, but it can sneak into our hearts without us even realizing it. We start to believe that our obedience, our prayers, or our good behavior somehow guarantee a certain outcome. And when things don’t go the way we expect or hope, we can feel disappointed—or even betrayed.

But faith was never meant to be a transaction; it’s meant to be a relationship. Jesus invites us into something so much deeper—a trust that looks more like a child resting in the arms of a loving Father. A child doesn’t have to earn their parent’s care or prove their worth—they just believe that love is there, no matter what.

So this week, spend a few quiet moments asking yourself: How do I view my relationship with Jesus? Is it transactional—based on what I do or what I expect Him to do? Or is it childlike—rooted in simple trust, knowing that He is good even when life doesn’t make sense?

Take a breath, open your heart, and let Jesus remind you that His love for you isn’t earned or bargained for—it’s already yours."

About the Episode:

In this Thanksgiving-themed podcast episode, Becky Davidson and her team discuss the significance of gratitude, share personal Thanksgiving plans, and reflect on the evolution of their holiday traditions. They explore the impact of working with families of children with special needs and how gratitude plays a vital role in their lives and work. The conversation highlights the importance of community, support, and the joy found in serving others, culminating in a heartfelt message about recognizing and appreciating the blessings in everyday life.

Related Links

Comparison Trap

Moment of Reflection:

So for this week’s moment of reflection, ask yourself: Am I spending more time looking at someone else’s life than noticing what God is doing in mine? I know how easy it is to fall into that comparison trap—believe me, I’ve been there—but when we shift our focus back to gratitude, we start to see the beauty in our own story.