As most of you know my daughter, age 17, has Down Syndrome. Norm and I adopted her and her brother many years ago - Priscilla was 2 and Dom was 3.
Anyway I consider it a privilege to having such a special person call me mom and live in my house. She has taught me many many things over the years - I feel so blessed that I was allowed to bring her home and raise her.
Anyway, the following was sent to me today via email - and it means a lot to us as a family and I wanted to share it with you.
For all of those who love and nurture those who need it the most - they love us unconditionally every day of the year, not just valentines.. that is the purest love of all..
THE BEATITUDES-For Friends of Exceptional Children
Blessed are you who take time to listen to difficult speech:
For you help us to know that if we persevere,
We can be understood.
Blessed are you who walk with us in public places,
And ignore the stares of strangers,
For in your companionship,
We find havens of peace.
Blessed are you who never bid us to "hurry up",
And more blessed are you
Who do not snatch tasks from our hands to do them for us,
For often we need time rather than help.
Blessed are you who stand beside us
As we enter new and untried ventures,
For our failures will be outweighed
By the times we surprise ourselves and you.
Blessed are you who ask for our help,
For our greatest need is to be needed.
Blessed are you when you assure us,
That the one thing that makes us individuals
Is not in our peculiar muscles,
Nor in our wounded nervous systems,
Nor in our difficulties in learning,
Nor any exterior difference.
But is in our inner, personal, individual self
Which no affirmity can diminish or erase.
Author Unknown
Compliments of Motivating Moments LLC
http://www.motivateus.com