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 to be far greater, for I cannot express
myself nor my needs as you do. You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete
it is at times. I do not gift 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 comments about
the world around me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's
stardards...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, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the
opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I
drive you further than you ever go 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
top shelf. I need to go to the bathroom... oh...I've dropped my spoon again.
I am dependent on you 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 me; I always notice them. I
feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one 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 measuring stick. What I do know is infinite joy in the
simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strifes and conflicts
of a 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 to you my innocent trust, my dependency upon
you. I teach you of respect for others 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.
