The Outsider

I'm Handicapped and wheelchair bound Expected to sit and not make a sound Just to smile and let the world go by With saintly patience and never sigh. Inside my head thoughts come and go Ideas are born which long to flow Flow from my lips and link me with others But words sound strange so no one bothers. My tongue and lips do not as I ask I cannot perform the simplest task But I have a mind and I'm still there Don't lock me out in your ignorance there. Talk though I seem not to understand touch me, include me, hold my hand I am alive and I have time to give Let me share in the life I was given to live Anon.

My Perfect Child

As my children were born I wanted them to be perfect. When they were babies, I wanted them to smile and be content playing with their toys. I wanted them to be happy and to laugh continually instead of crying and being demanding. I wanted them to see the beautiful side of life. As they grew older, I wanted them to be giving instead of selfish. I wanted them to skip the terrible twos. I wanted them to stay innocent forever. As they became teenagers, I wanted them to be obedient and not rebellious, mannerly and not mouthy. I wanted them to be full of love, gentle and kind-hearted. "Oh, God, give me a child like this" was often my prayer. One day he did. Some called him handicapped... I call him Perfect!! Author unknown

Welcome to Holland

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you the a horrible, disgusting , filthy place, full of pestilence , famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place, It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has Windmills.... and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of a dream is a very very significant loss. But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things... about Holland. By Emily Perl Kingsley

I Am the Child

........... 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 the infinite joy in the simple things, I am not burdened as you are with the strife 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 will allow me I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how 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 Unknown

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 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

God Sent to Me an Angel

God sent to me and angel, it had a broken wing. I bent my head and wondered "How could God do such a thing?" When I asked the Father why He sent this child to me, the answer was forthcoming, He said "Listen and you'll see." "My children are all precious, and none is like the rest. Each one to me is special and the least is as the best. I send each one from Heaven and I place it in the care of those who know my mercy, those with love to spare. Sometimes I take them back again. Sometimes I let them stay. No matter what may happen I am never far away. So if you find and angel and you don't know what to do, remember, I am with you, love is all I ask of you." by Paul Dammann

The Friend Who Stands By

When troubles come you soul to try You love the friend who just stands by. Perhaps there's nothing she can do The thing is strictly up to you. For there are troubles all your own And paths the soul must tread alone, Times when love can't smooth the road Nor friendship lift the heavy load. But just to feel you have a friend Who will stand by until the end. Whose sympathy through all endures Whose warm handclasp is always yours. It helps somehow to pull you through Although there's nothing she can do. And so with fervent heart we cry God Bless the friend who just stands by.

Anon.