I AM THE CHILD:

I am the child who cannot talk.  You often pity me.  I see it in your eyes.  You wonder how much I am aware of.. I see that as well.  I am aware of much … whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me.  I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine ito be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.  You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is a at times.  I do not fit you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated.  I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or moments about the world around me.  I do not give you rewards as defined by the worlds standards … great strides in development that you can credit yourself.  I do not give you understanding as you know it.  What I give you is so much more valuable… I give you instead opportunities.  Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, you commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply then you imagined possible.  I drive you further than you would ever do on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions, creating questions with no answers.  I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk.  The world sometimes seems to pass me by.  You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children.  There is much you take for granted.  I want the toys on the shelf.  I need to go to the bathroom, Oh, I’ve dropped my fork again.  I am dependent on your in these ways.  My gift to you is to make you aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself.  Sometimes people appear not to notice;  I always notice them.  I feel not so much envy as desire; desire to stand upright, to put on foot in front of the other, to be independent.  I give you awareness.  I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired.  I don’t learn easily, if you judge me by the world’s stick.  What I do know is infinite joy in the simple things. I am not burdened as you are with strife and conflicts of more complicated life.  My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love.  I give you the gift of simplicity.  I am the child who is mentally impaired. 

I am the disabled child.  I am your teacher.  If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life.  I will give you and teach you unconditional love.  I give you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.  I teach you of respect for other and their uniqueness.  I teach you about the sanctity of life.  I teach you about how very precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.  I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.  I teach you giving.  Most of all, I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

 

“Author Anonymous”