poems

The Special Child---
The child, yet unborn, spoke with
the Father.
"Lord, how will I survive
in the world?
My walk may be slower,
my speech hard to understand.
I may look different.
What is to become of me?"
The Lord replied to the child,
"My precious one, have no fear.
I will give you exceptional parents.
They will love you because
you are special, not in spite of it.
Though your path through life
will be difficult,
your reward will be greater.
You have been blessed with
a special ability to love,
and those whose lives you touch
will be blessed
because you are special."
author unknown

The Angels in the House---
Three pairs of dimpled arms as white as snow
held me in soft embrace;
Three little cheeks, like velvet peaches soft,
Were placed against my face.
Three pairs of tiny eyes, so clear, so deep,
Looked up in mine this even;
Three pairs of lips kissed me a sweet "Good night,"
Three little forms from Heaven.
Ah, it is well that "little ones"should love us;
It lights our faith when dim,
To know that once our blessed Saviour bade them
Bring "little ones" to him.
And said he not, "Of such is Heaven," and
blessed them,
And held them to his breast?
Is it not sweet to know that, when they leave us,
'Tis then they go to rest?
And yet, ye tiny angels of my house,
Three hearts encased in mine,
How 'twould be shattered if the Lord should say,
"Those angels are not thine."
anonymous

To All Parents--
"I'll lend to you for a little while
a child of mine," He said.
For you to love the while he lives
and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years
or twenty two or three.
But will you till I call him back
take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories,
as solace for your grief.
"I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.
I've searched the wide world over,
in my search for teachers true;
And will you give him all your love,
nor think that labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take
him back again?"
I fancied that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done,
for all the joy this child will bring,
the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him while we may.
And for the happiness we've known forever,
grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him,
much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief,
that comes and try to understand.
author unknown

Evening Prayer--
If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way-
Good Lord, forgive!
If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself should suffer through the strain-
Good Lord, forgive!
If I have craved for joys that are not mine,
If I have let my wayward heart repine,
Dwelling on things of earth, not things divine-
Good Lord, forgive!
If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold
When Thou hast given me some part to hold-
Good Lord, forgive!
Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see.
That which I know not, Father, teach Thou me-
Help me to live.
C. Maud Battersby

I'm different and I don't care who knows it
I've got something to tell you
That's why I came, yeah
I'm different and that's how it goes
Something about me is not that same
Got a different way of walkin'
Got a different kind of smile
Got a different way a talkin'
Got a different kind of style
I ain't saying' I'm better than you are
I am who I am
I only know that when I look in the mirror
I like the man
I'm different and I don't care who knows it.

from the Johnson & Johnson ad campaign
"How to talk to kids about being different,"
by Randy Newman

Lori Hickman: I have dedicated Living In My Skin: The Insider's View of Life With a Special Needs Child to the families of children with special needs from whom I have learned so much. It expresses what I have learned about them and, more importantly, from them. The dedication appears below:

Someone I love relies on me in ways you will never understand. Someone I love endures pain and challenges that break my heart and renew my spirit at the same time. Someone I love is unable to advocate for themselves for things that most of us take for granted. Someone I love will never have the opportunities that every child should have. Someone I love will need unconditional love and support after I am gone-this frightens me to the core. Someone I love encounters pity, stereotyping responses, and prejudice at every turn, because they look, act, and/or learn differently than others. Someone I love has needs that require me to allow "outsiders" to have power and input in areas that should be mine alone to meet. Someone I love will continue to look to me for everything in life long after other children are able to assume a place as part of the world. Someone I love has needs that require more time and energy than I have to give. Someone I love has needs that mean I am not able to meet basic needs of my own. Someone I love has needs that have become the driving force behind major decisions my family makes. Someone I love has changed me in ways I will never be able to describe. Someone I love has taught me about love and about the really important things in life...
Living In My Skin: The Insider's View of Life With a Special Needs Child.
Copyright 2000 by Communication Skill Builders, A Harcourt Health Sciences Co.
Author Lori Hickman, M.S., CCC-SLP

from The Clowns of God by Morris West

I know what you are thinking - you need a sign. What better one could I give than to make this little one whole and new? I could do it, but I will not! I am the Lord and not a conjurer. I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of you - eternal innocence. To you, she looks imperfect but to me she is flawless, like the bud that dies unopened or the fledgling that falls from the nest to be devoured by the ants. She will never offend me, as all of you have done. She will never pervert or destroy the work of my Father's hands. She is necessary to you. She will evoke the kindness that will keep you human. Her infirmity will prompt you to gratitude for your own good fortune. More! She will remind you every day that I am who I am, that my ways are not yours, and that the smallest dust mite, whiled in darkest space, does not fall out of my hand. I have chosen you. You have not chosen me. This little one is my sign to you. Treasure her!

INSTEAD

by Huygen Hilling

Instead of walking with you
I will crawl with you
Instead of talking with you
I will find ways to communicate with you
Instead of focusing on what you cannot do
I will reward you with love for what you can do
Instead of isolating you
I will create adventures for you
Instead of feeling sorry for you
I will respect you.

from Special Kids Need Special Parents by Judith Loseff Lavin

Constant State of Service (taken from the MUMS newsletter, summer 2001)

I was on a train on a rainy day. The train was slowing down to pull into the station. For some reason I became intent on watching the raindrops on the window. Two separate drops, pushed by the wind, merged into one for a moment, and then divided again-each carrying with it a part of the other. Simply by that momentary touching, neither was what it had been before. And as each one went on to touch other raindrops, it shared not only itself, but what it had gleaned from the other. I saw this metaphor many years ago and it is one of my most vivid memories. I realized then that we never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace. Our state of being matters to those around us, so we need to become conscious of what we unintentionally share so we can learn to share with intention.

"To See Differently" Susan S. Trout, Ph.D.

Perhaps God is a poet
who writes with words
of flesh and bone and leaf and flower.
Every hour of every day,
words pour out of the poet's heart,
and every word is beautiful
and true and worth the telling.
And when each poem is perfect,
and there is no more which ought to be said,
the poet gently takes the words
back into his heart,
where they are safe forever...
and then begins again.
author unknown