One Word

How many parents of 21 year old children are proud as peacocks their child wrote one word? For sure not many, but Jimmy and I are among the few because last Sunday Dani copied the Name above all names on the white board.

I'd just taken her to her new special needs class and as I spoke with the teachers the kids began to write and draw on the board. In order to give Dani a little guidance I wrote "Jesus" and a line underneath for her to copy the letters. Handing her the marker I turned back to talk with the teachers. I'd no sooner returned to the conversation when a little tap landed on my arm. She knew what she had written, for she knows His name, and was eager to show me her work.

Like a good mom I gave the board a quick glance, but instead of turning my attention back to the conversation with the teachers as I had intended, I gasped a gasp that shocked even me. Why...I sucked in so much air you'd have thought a poisonous snake was crawling up the wall. But instead of running, I stepped toward the source of my shock because there in front of my eyes was the most beautiful handwriting I'd ever seen. My little girl had written the name of her maker and it was simply beautiful.

I remember the days when I not only would have never placed Dani in a handicapped class, but been more ashamed than proud she could write only one word at 21 years of age. Those were the days when my pride was so devastated over having a disabled child that it took every ounce of energy to tend to damage control. I ate Twinkies continually to numb the pain and prayed without ceasing for God to heal her so I could survive. He never did grant my wish, yet somehow I managed to exist.

It's been a long road these past couple of decades but I've come a long way. I no longer gorge on little cakes to ease the pain and my eyes are less on me and more on our daughter. Little things like writing a word on the white board actually warm my heart and prompt me to thank God for the biggest little thing in the world. After all, if no one else notices her sparse accomplishments we know He does because nothing escapes His attention. He created her, He cares for her, and loves her just the way she is. So do I. Guess I'm finally becoming a little more like Him.