Celebrating Every Day

Today is World Down Syndrome Day.  The Down syndrome community is celebrating globally with a great deal of excitement in the air.  Videos abound and there is much chatter over the internet about all that is positive about raising a child with Down syndrome or loving an individual with Down syndrome.

BUT it isn’t just about this one day.  I live with and love someone with Down syndrome.  I work every day to teach her, mold her and love her.  

Because I love her, the work is easy.  We work together, play together and joy springs forth.

The world doesn’t see the love we share or the joy we know.

Most just see is the common features individuals with Down syndrome share and judge that life to be without value.

Every day, around the globe, unborn babies with Down syndrome are terminated.

Words like burden, hardship, worthless, suffering, retarded are used to advise expectant parents with a  prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome - tragic and inexcusable.

As we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, we celebrate truth.

Living and loving someone with Down syndrome is knowing joy and unconditional love.


 It is about finding whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil 4:8) 

Think about such things and know…

...this is our life and that is worth celebrating every day.

World Down Syndrome Day IDSC for Life

 From International Down Syndrome Coalition for Life

"We were inspired by a video, in which mothers were asked if they could go back, and say something to themselves, before they became mothers, what would you say? So we decided we would ask all parents if they could go back before they had a baby, or adopted a baby with Down syndrome, what would you say? Their responses were beyond anything we dreamed. This video, celebrating World Down Syndrome Day, summarizes and brings to light exactly why we celebrate this day! We hope that others will see that our lives are filled with love and joy, and all things that are good and amazing."

Like IDSC for Life on Facebook!

The Road Less Traveled

Photo Credit

A journey filled with unknowns

Elicits fear and trepidation

Raw authentic emotions

Strain heart and mind

A whisper

“My will, not thine”

And we journey on

Lessons in walking by faith; not by sight

Love deepens, faith grows

Peace enters in

A heightened awareness 

The Lord is near

And all will be well

It's A Wonderful Life

Remember the movie called It’s a Wonderful Life with James Stewart and Donna Reed?  Our Christmas season is incomplete without at least one viewing of this film.  After a series of unfortunate events the lead character, George Bailey, contemplates suicide, thinking his loved ones would be better off if he were dead.  Prayers from concerned friends and family storm heaven.  An angel, Clarence, is sent to earth to intervene. Clarence lets George look at life in his home town, Bedford Falls,  to see what life would look like if he had never existed.    The town is drastically different without George.  It becomes a place where hardship is rampant, filled with people who lack compassion - a place that knows no joy.  George comes to realize that his life is worthwhile and valuable despite the trials he faces, and George returns filled with renewed zeal and love for his life. 

 I cry every time I see this movie.

Approximately ninety-two percent of expectant parents given a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome chose termination over life with Down syndrome. The reality is that they will never have the opportunity to know what they are missing. They will never know the joy that I know as I do with Reagan, my daughter with Down syndrome.  Their family and friends will never know what they have missed.

I don’t want to think about what life would be like without Reagan.  Just expressing the thought brings tears to my eyes.  I remember what life was like before Reagan and what I know now.

I live a marvelous love story.  I have a wonderful life! 

 I live in a place that is filled with happiness and joy.  I live my life with profound gratitude for what God has placed before me – including and especially for my child with Down syndrome.  

Reagan has a wonderful life.  You only need ask her.

She is valued and values others.

She is loved and loves. 

 

She gives and receives. 

She learns and she teaches.

She sins and asks forgiveness

She has dreams & desires...

Just like you

Yes, there are challenges and hardships – as with any child.  Isn’t there an element of sacrifice in all loving relationships?

If you are here because you are carrying an unborn child with Down syndrome, let me be your Clarence.  

See that our life is a wonderful life…

…and know that all life is precious.