I've said it before & I'll say it again ... some of the most inspirational people you will ever meet can be found in the waiting room of a Pediatric Therapy Clinic.
While painting this quote this morning ... a certain family came to mind that I met 4 1/2 years ago. This family had a boy that was about 10 who was mostly blind [except for some slight vision an inch from his face] & mostly deaf. He couldn't speak; just uttered loud sounds. He would walk up very closely to people so that he could see them. And would touch. His parents often struggled physically with him, too, because he was a big & very strong kid. They also had 5 other children, 1 of which was younger than this boy. Watching these parents every week, I couldn't help but feel sad for them. Sad for their struggles & hardship. I couldn't help it.
After a few weeks, the mom & I became pretty good acquaintances. I really enjoyed her company in the waiting room those months that our sons' therapies overlapped. We would talk about things we had in common, such as the avoidance of restaurants. She said they just quit going because everyone stared at their son who couldn't help his behavior. We were doing the same thing [avoiding eating out at restaurants for the time being], but I'm sure the amount of stares we got paled in comparison. But still we chatted about our small similarities. She was the sweetest lady who just worked so so hard. It wasn't that I felt pity for her, but it definitely was hard to watch her struggle exponentially harder with her son than I did with mine.
One day, however, she told me that her son had been born prematurely, just a little over 1/2 way through her pregnancy. She said she and her family prayed over him for months ... to live. And he was an answer to their prayers. She beamed when she told me "He's a miracle".
I will never forget that lesson of what a 'perfect miracle' looks like; how I shouldn't view another person's life without their consent; and what the inside of an incredible mother's heart looks like.
{I think this canvas will be set aside until April 2. :) }
4 comments:
*tears*
Thank you for sharing. The other day I had a friend contact me about a post I had shared about Cici. She said it put so many things in perspective for her. You never know who your sharing will touch.
Very insightful. . .I know a little something about miracles, too.
lindsay - i agree. you never know who needs to hear it ... which is why i did feel compelled to share. :)
mom - yes you/we do. :) i thought of dad, too. he is a walking, talking miracle despite the struggles. and God certainly answered our prayers. hard to believe his accident was almost 9 years ago! xo :)
thanks for sharing rach! Love your quote canvas too..it's beautiful!
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