Far from Normal

Do you know someone who is far from normal? My mom & my little brother both were. I, on the other hand, was SO normal (selfish & proud) that often I was embarrassed of them &/or frustrated w/ them. I loved them but I never fully realized how much I loved them until I lost them both w/in about 6wks of each other. Then - & only then - did I understand (guess I'm a slooow learner) what God used them to teach me. In a nutshell: I needed to be different! FAR from normal! It was then that my selfishness & strong will turned into a desperate attempt (passion!) to know God & I found the motivation to attempt to be more like Christ ...& somehow - thru' it all, my pride was converted into compassion ...in such a way that I can claim - but is so hard to explain.

I'm still FAR from perfect(!) - but praise God I'm also far from normal ... & hopefully getting farther away all the time! -- bc God placed some very special people in my life who were far from normal too - & He's used few to teach & change(!) me as much as they did.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world,
to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
2 Peter 2:11

***

I believe this is the poem my mom had on her dresser for years. It had been typed out on a typewriter. No idea who gave it to her or when - but bc my little brother had Down's Syndrome, I imagine it was quite an encouragement to her. In honor of my mom & my little brother I'm sharing it here.

HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD

A meeting was held quite far from Earth!
It's time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the LORD above,
This Special Child will need much love.

His progress may be very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show.
And he'll require extra care
From the folks he meets down there.

He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away,
In many ways he won't adapt,
And he'll be known as handicapped.

So let's be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content.
Please LORD, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.

They will not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for their gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD.


by Edna Massionilla
December 1981
The Optomist- newsletter for PROUD
Parents Regional Outreach for Understanding Down's Inc.

via http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Heavens_special_child.html