In the sweetest little voice she asked me "what happened to him?"
I knelt down next to her right there in the aisle and said "you know how Sarah was born with Prader-Willi syndrome and we call it special needs sometimes? Well, he has special needs too. His body was born that way. That's his challenge that God gave him."
That's all the explanation she needed for the moment because she said ok and just walked away.
About an hour later, we found ourselves at the park. She was swinging on a JennSwing and after a minute she said "this is a new swing. I've never seen one like this before."
I went on to explain to her that "remember when you saw that boy in Target? His mommy could bring him to this park and put him in that swing. He wouldn't be able to swing on one of the other swings. It's a swing made for kids with special needs." I even told her about "when Sarah was her age that she had just finally learned how to sit up on a regular swing. When she was two and three years old she had to sit in a special needs swing too."
She sat there and then finally said "It's sad that I have a body and a brain that works right."
I remember having these exact same conversations with Spencer. He was about that same age. That age of Kindergarten seems to bring these questions of noticing the differences in others.
When Sarah was in Kindergarten, that was the first year that we were asked to go into her class and talk to the children about why Sarah "talked different, walked different, asked the same questions over and over and over again, why she wanted to eat all the time."
I often think that one of the huge blessings and learning experiences we gain from Sarah is being able to accept the differences in everyone. Our children are so open to others and their physical disabilities.
Allison was at Walmart with me today and a sweet older woman drove past us in an electric wheelchair. Allison said right out loud "she has special needs, Mom!" The people around us smiled and asked how old she was. One lady commented "what a special child to realize that and not be rude and stare or point."
I agree. She is a special little girl. I know that Allison was sent to our family for specific reasons and one of them was to be Sarah's sister. She idolizes her big sister and wants to be just like Sarah. Allison will be so much more empathetic and understanding of others has she lives a life alongside her sister.
Not only Sarah, Spencer and Allison are learning, but Justin and I have also commented many times on how we feel so comfortable around others with physical disabilities or handicaps. We both felt a little nervous and unsure at one point in our lives but this whole world has been opened to all of us.
Bottom line, we are all God's children. We were all sent with different challenges. Some you can see better than others, some are physical, some mental, some spiritual and some just hard to see but you know they are there somewhere. I absolutely know that because of The Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ everyone of these challenges can be overcome and perfected. I know my Sarah will have a perfect mind and perfect body in the resurrection. I so look forward to that day that I can stand in front of her and have a heart to heart conversation.
How blessed we are to have our special Sarah. We wouldn't trade even the hard times for anything in the world. I especially love that she helps us teach our other two children how to love unconditionally and to solidify that we are all important. That they can overcome any and every challenge that they are or will face.
If you don't walk as most people do,
Some people walk away from you,
But I won't! I won't!
If you don't talk as most people do,
Some people talk and laugh at you,
But I won't! I won't!
I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.
That's how I'll show my love for you.
Jesus walked away from none.
He gave his love to ev'ryone.
So I will! I will!
Jesus blessed all he could see,
Then turned and said, "Come, follow me."
And I will! I will!
I will! I will!
I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.
That's how I'll show my love for you.
(Primary Song Book pg.140)
