Tuesday, June 16, 2009

As long as he's healthy...

Those little words are oh so common to pregnant women. How many times have you said, or heard, those words. The conversation goes something like this:

Stranger: Oh! Are you having a boy or girl?
Mama: We don't know... As long as it's healthy we will be happy...

These little words have become really irritating to me. Of course we all want our babies and children to be healthy.

But what if they aren't? Do we love them less? Discard them?

What if they don't develop normally? Do we love them less?

I am going to venture a guess that 99.9% of us will fiercely love our children - NO MATTER WHAT.

The other day at Target I overhead this comment. And with my unnormal children in tow, I fought ever urge I had to tap her on the shoulder and say, "What if she's not?" However since I didn't know her, I figured it wouldn't go over too well. Instead, I just prayed...

So why are these words becoming my big pet peeve? I don't know. They just are...

Maybe because I'm sensitive about children with special needs.

Maybe because I have quite a few friends who children have struggled with health and I know how beautiful these children are.

Maybe because I'm tired of people looking twice or making insensitive comments about my children.

Maybe because I couldn't imagine not having these children in my life.

Maybe because this isn't the motherhood I signed up for, but I wouldn't change a thing.

But this I know... God cherishes and adores each and everyone of our children. Healthy or not. And since I have to children who are developmentally delayed - I think He loves us more! Just kidding - sorta.

3 comments:

Terri said...

I found a book titled "Sometimes Miracles Hide" but I can't remember who is the author. I read it in '99 and still have it packed away so I can sneak a peak. It is composed of many parents of children with various special needs. The amazing thing was that these parents all reported that they were able to see God's grace, God's mercy, God's everlasting love that they may never have seen if they have never had their children. Yes every child is a gift from the Lord - no matter what the wrapping is and every child is a delight. As one mother in the book put it, (and I'm paraphrasing here) it wasn't her daughter that needed changing, it was her own heart (and idea).
I hope this comment was not hurtful - I intended it to be an agreement with you and hopefully an encouragement. (As well as teaching kindergarten, I had the joy of teaching children who were non-verbal due to many things. Both teaching positions had a few downs but they both had numerous highs and thrills.)
Take care.
Terri

2Corinth1:4mom said...

Terri, you are absolutely right! And I know that God gave these children to ME because I needed THEM, not the other way around. I've also read a book called, "You Will Dream New Dreams" and it has become my saying. I'm going to look for "Sometimes Miracles Hide."

Thanks!

RaisingOlives said...

Several years ago I really thought about that comment, "As long as it's healthy." and stopped using it.

Like you said, "so what if they're not?" they aren't any less valuable or precious and they are not any less of a blessing!

Blessings to you as you raise your beloved children.

Blessings,
Kimberly