I would like to touch on a subject that is very near and dear to me. I have always been very effected even as a young child when I saw a special needs child. When I was very young I would see them here and there while out with my parents. My mom said that when a person had a handicapped child in her day that the child did not regularly go out. Almost like it was a shameful thing. Well as I got older and was high school age I met 3 kids that were high functioning Down syndrome. I watched them at first from afar as I got a little more secure with how to interact . I would make attempts to just say hi as I passed :them in the hall. At first they looked but did not respond.
I do not blame them because they were taunted by some of the kids and made fun of. Over a period of time I got them to trust me and we got to talking in the cafeteria and we made small talk. For me it was about the connection. I had a teacher named Mr. Myerow who used to shoo kids away from them if they were being teased. He was so thrilled to see these amazing kids being acknowledged as being loveable and having value. And, they truely did.
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Q__bpfOZaR4
My biggest heartache as I graduated was that they would be okay after I was gone. I ran into one 15 or so years later when my business was called to work in his home. Duggie now works at the school and was still in a high school routine taking the bus with all the kids and coming home after school the same way. He recognized me as I reminded him who I was and it was a very special moment.
The years kept rolling on and my eldest brother and his lovely wife had their 3rd child , a son. My nephew S. The Earl of Alpine as I call him was here on the Earth. Everything appeared well and at the age of around 3 he began taking seizures. It was a horrible time for my entire family network. My nephews greatest gift is his family. His mom,dad,two sisters and grandmother who are with him constantly. Not to mention all of his aunt’s, uncles and cousins and his grandfather. God could not have given S better parents who could cope with raising him with his special needs and his special requirements. My brother and his wife N were able to do it because they have a sturdy foundation of faith from their mom’s and dads and continued to grow that foundation of faith by their desire to serve God.They are both God Strong and when people would say to my brother oh, what a cross to bare that you have been given to bare he would tell them that his son S was the best gift that they ever had received.
There are angels among us.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3HbCI-cqGvQ
S. is the heart of our entire family all 40 so of us. We have laughed and cried more because of him and because of his situation everyone of us is a better more loving person.
S brought a personal face to what being special is all about. My whole family witnessed what true sacrafice is by watching my brother,sister in law and nieces raise S together.
S was raised so regardless of what people thought about his limitations he was like everyone else and he was accountable. He did not get a pass for bad behavior, he did not get a pass for talking back. He knows Jesus Christ and believe me, Jesus loves him. As a matter of fact S does the Holy Rosary with his mom and dad. 🙂
My brother and sister in law were amazing as were their daughters in pulling the wagons in around him and walking in step to make him the best most secure person that they could make him.
Well, S is not a spoiled developmentally autistic child that he could be. S is love, everyone loves him , he is an angel. This guy is now I believe 23 and has been through heck and back with health issues and is currently in a Boston area hospital with the emergence of diabetes. So please say a prayer for him as they adjust his life once again for another restriction.
During my writing for the church that I did through the Holy Spirit 5 or so years ago I wrote that the handicapped and special needs children are special gifts from God. They have highly evolved Spirits and are teachers to us.
We learn what true love is, what true sacrafice is and they are angels. I consider S as one my most favorite people in this world.
S is love, S is kindness, S is compassionate, S does not see a handicap he does not judge. S and other people like him are really what God calls us to be.
S is a special Olympian as well.
S has a lovely girlfriend that he has had for years. K and they show us how beautiful love , and caring is. What being supportive of one a other is. It’s not a sex thing. It’s a love thing.
The saddest thing about S and K ‘s lives and those special like them is that they are truely the forgotten in society. They are the poor crosses to bare for their families. Thank God we do not see it that way.
My brother has even tried to get him a little something to do for him at places including church and there is nothing available. S goes to a program and he is bright and so good . I am honored to have him in my life. Thank you GOD. He has been multiple bricks in my foundation. When I came down with cancer, S did not see a cancer patient who was looking bad, he saw his uncle Danny. He smiled and showed compassion to me he then began doing everything I needed and he never complained once. He just smiles and runs back and forth. He is my buddy an angel.
My mom always said she had 13 grandchildren and S was the only one she was sure was going to go to Heaven.
You know, God said the last shall be first and in this society. S and his friends like him are the last. But their LOVE and goodness put them 1st in my book and I am sure God’s too.
God bless you buddy and K too. 🙂
Love your favorite Uncle, Danny
P.S.,
Remember, we never know when God will send us an Angel to teach us, challenge us or to see how we respond to them or their needs.
WHAT WE DO FOR OTHERS , WE DO FOR CHRIST.
WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE AMEN.
P.S.S,
SORRY FOR TYPO’ s, no energy left to correct.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
DANNY
Alabama. Angels Among Us.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Ao_GFVduAVA
Just Danny Speaks 