Disabled children can teach us plenty about ourselves
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
January 26, 2012 12:22am CST
I’m thinking of my Godchild tonight. She is a joy to be around. She is a happy baby. I call her a baby because she looks like she is about 9 years old. She has gone through puberty, but she is very small in her stature and in her features. When she started her monthly at 14 her mom and I cried like babies, because our baby was growing up.
My Godchild will never walk, talk, feed herself, go to the bathroom by herself. She will be forever in diapers. We used to pray for God to heal her, and then we realized that she is complete as she is. God loves her as she is. We used to cry because she would never use her voice to ask for a Happy Meal like other kids. She would never sing like her mom. There is so much that she will never do… however….
My Godchild has a ministry of her own. I believe she is one on one with God. She is pure love. She loves everyone… she smiles, laughs and squeals. She shows everyone what love really is.
When she gets sick, she is at risk for dying. Why? Because when she is sick she stops eating and drinking. She eats through a feeding cup, because you can’t spoon feed her. The last time, after 16 days of her not eating or drinking the doctor opted to put a feeding tube in her stomach to feed her. When she got better she reached into her diaper and yanked that thing out of her belly. So far she hasn’t been really sick this year.
Do you believe that disabled children can teach us things about ourselves? I really do. I believe we all connect with each other on some level… and even disabled people can touch us even if they can’t talk to us.
Your thoughts?
5 people like this
4 responses
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
26 Jan 12
Yes I believe we can learn a lot from people with disabilities, I think they can keep us grounded in a way and they seem to have something special that we can't explain almost like they have an extra gift .
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Jan 12
Exactly! I'm not sure what it is but my Godchild teaches me so much. She has taught me the difference between empathy and sympathy. She wouldn't want pity for herself. She has taught me that she is perfect just the way she is.
1 person likes this
@CookingIsMyPassion (653)
• United States
27 Jan 12
It is sad when you hear stories of children who are fully disabled. It does bring tears to your eyes. On the other hand they are so dependent and provide unconditional love that will never be depleted as the child grows up. Being the caregiver is a tough job but gives you a feeling of being needed, you have a real purpose in life and learn that true love comes in many ways and can make you a better person inside and out...you don't take things and life for granted but enjoy each day and the adventures that are given to you each day as you wake!
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Jan 12
Hi Cooking! I tried posting already and got that red flag that says ‘unable to post content, please modify”… I hate when that happens because I lose everything. I’m typing in word now so I have it if it happens again.
You are right about them being unconditional love. My K is love in the purest form.
@CookingIsMyPassion (653)
• United States
27 Jan 12
Knowing that makes you the richest person in the world with a big and loving heart!
@AmbiePam (85984)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I wholeheartedly agree. There are so many great stories of how disabled children and even when they grow to be disabled adults, have changed the worlds of people who are there to watch them grow and evolve. It shames that me that there are still people who things those with disabilities such as your god child should have been aborted. They become blessings, not burdens.
@Robswife2006 (1208)
• United States
26 Jan 12
I totally agree. When I think about all that they can't do I also think about all that they can do & that's teach us humility. How many times have we complained about our lives, unsatisfied with the material things we do have only to think about the things we don't. That's when I think about people/children that are disabled & the amazing courage they show day after day. It makes me feel ashamed at having ever had complained in the first place. I agree that all of us have a lot to learn & the ones to teach us are these children & people w/ disabilities.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Jan 12
I know. I've been in that position. When we complain about our situation in life we may not even give a thought to the people who can't talk or put one foot in front of the other. My niece used to work with mentally and physically disabled children until she had a stroke. I think her line of work helped her to accept herself and not feel like a victim. She is perfect how she is.
