Growing up my mom had a best friend from college that we would often go and visit. She had at the time 4 kids, Elizabeth, Daniel, David, and Nathan...pretty much the cutest kids ever! The coolest thing was Daniel had Down Syndrome, he was the funnest kid. He loved when my mom would sing to him about Daniel and the Lions den, he loved getting piggy backs and he loved to laugh. That was the first time I had ever been around someone who was "special" and I loved that sweet boy. As I got older, we often had "special needs" children integrated into our classes, especially in Illinois. I remember one boy, Scottie, I think he had autism he was freaking awesome! He always had a smile on his face and he would play with us as much as he could and we would make sure to include him in all that we could. In high school there was a girl with Down Syndrome named Katie, she became best friends with on of my good friends and she loved school and she loved her friends. The worst days were when she would come to our table sobbing because someone made fun of her that day. In church growing up we had Kyle, who also had down syndrome, he always sat in a specific pew and colored the whole time. He even got up on Fast Sundays and bore his testimony, we couldn't understand him..but we could feel his sweet spirit.
Finally we come to the event that changed my life. I was at an amusement park with a few friends from high school, getting ready to get on one of the rides. My friends had gone to do something and I was waiting for them by a ride as I sat there and people watched I noticed a mother trying out the seat for a ride, unfortunately she wouldn't be able to fit on the ride. My heart broke for her, I know it must be so hard to not ride with your children and its embarrassing for her. As I turned my attention to my friends she approached us and asked if we would take her son on the ride with us, the catch? He had autism. However, that didn't stop him...he LOVES roller coaster rides!!! We quickly agreed and she walked with us to the gate, told him that we were going to go with him. I'll never forget him looking at me and grabbing my hand to hold it tight. The innocence and the complete faith that I would take care of him struck me and I loved that experience and it is one I have never forgotten. It is what gave me the desire to one day work with special needs children and even maybe one day adopt or foster a child.
I see these wonderful, sweet children of Heavenly Father and I can't help but smile at their joy and their innocence. It breaks my heart when I hear of people willing to abort these sweet spirits because it will be too difficult to handle or because they aren't "perfect". To me they are the most perfect children, they get to live without the taint of the world and I believe they are held tenderly in our Savior's and Father's hands and hearts. They are a special spirit sent here to gain a body and touch our hearts, why deny them that experience? On another note, I can't help but fall in love with those sweet faces in the pictures I posted, the joy in their faces. My brother-in-law has Autism and you know what? I think that just makes him more awesome, every time he ventures out of his room I can't help but smile and give him a high five. I love when I go visit and he sticks his shaking hand out for a high five and when I give him one he just grins! At first I was unsure, not scared of him or anything, just unsure how to act..but you know what? He doesn't care about that, he just wants his high five, so I don't care anymore and love seeing him.
My heart has been touched in so many ways and I think Heavenly Father has something in store for me that will change my life, what it is I don't know. But i know that he will be there to guide me, to carry me when I am weak, and to hold my hand. I pray for those people who have the courage to accept their trials and burdens and turn them into strengths. I know it isn't easy to be a parent of a "special needs" child, but I know that it is worth it in all the little things. While I am not a parent at all yet, I feel like I am right in what I have said. I love the Gospel and the Plan of Salvation and knowing that these sweet Spirits will be in Heaven whole and perfect. Every one has a purpose here on earth and sometimes that purpose may be to soften a heart or make someone smile. I am grateful to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father and a wonderful Big brother who sacrificed so that I could be where I am today.
I am a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.
Any questions or comments, feel free to leave them for me. :)
