......And Other Inspirational Tales
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......And Other Inspirational Tales |
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Puppies For Sale
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale". Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. " How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. " Can I please look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. " That is the little puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, " No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll give him to you." The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, " I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for." The store owner countered, " You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies." To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, " Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"
By Dan Clark
Weathering the Storm from Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1993 by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen
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The Ten Commandments for Parents of Handicapped Children
1. Take one day at a time, and take that day positively. You don't have control over the future, but you do have control over today.
2. Never underestimate your child's potential. Allow him, encourage him, expect him to develop to the best of his abilities.
3. Find and allow positive mentors: parents and professionals who can share with you their experience, advice, and support.
4. Provide and be involved with the most appropriate educational and learning environments for your child from infancy on.
5. Keep in mind the feelings and needs of your spouse and your other children. Remind them that this child does not get more of your love just because he gets more of your time.
6. Answer only to your conscience: then you'll be able to answer to your child. You need not justify your actions to your friends or the public.
7. Be honest with your feelings. You can't be a super-parent 24 hours a day. Allow yourself jealousy, anger, pity, frustration, and depression in small amounts whenever necessary.
8. Be kind to yourself. Don't focus continually on what needs to be done. Remember to look at what you have accomplished.
9. Stop and smell the roses. Take advantage of the fact that you have gained a special appreciation for the little miracles in life that others take for granted.
10. Keep and use a sense of humor. Cracking up with laughter can keep you from cracking up from stress.
Author Unknown
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12
Step Program for Parent of a Child with Special Needs
1. I will not blame
myself.
2. I will not blame my child.
3. I will only look forward to what we can do, not to the past on what we didn't do.
4. I will pace myself; I'm
in this for the long haul. I will acknowledge that I need to look to the long
term goals and not hit the panic button on all the small stuff. I have to pick
the issues I respond to. I need to be prepared mentally, physically and
emotionally for the fact that long term accomplishments take place gradually.
There
are no quick fixes.
5. I will educate myself on my child's disabilities.
6. I will educate myself on my child's legal rights to an education.
7. I will educate myself on possible therapies and programs for my child,
keeping in mind that there are many charlatans who would take advantage of
desperate parents.
8. I will provide the emotional support my child needs daily.
9. I will provide the appropriate structures, rules and discipline in the
home to help my child be independent and successful.
10. I will try to educate others on my child's disability.
11. I will restore sanity to my life through belief in a higher power (NOT
NECESSARILY SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS)
12. I will strive to create a balanced childhood/life for my LD child, my family
and myself, recognizing that life is more than just school. I
will make time for pure fun and allow them to be 'just kids' not 'special
cases'.
Written by "mmhm" a very dedicated mother of a child with a learning
disability.
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Hope
If you can look at the sunset and smile, then you still have hope.
If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower, then you still have hope.
If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly, then you still have hope.
If the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope.
If you can see the good in other people, then you still have hope.
If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep, then you still have hope.
If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, then you still have hope
If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips, then you still have hope.
If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, then you still have hope.
If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then you still have hope.
If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, then you still have hope.
If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.
If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, then you still have hope.
If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope.
If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, then you still have hope.
If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the turkey, then you still have hope.
If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you still have hope.
If you can look to the past and smile, then you still have hope.
If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile,
you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase...
"yeah....BUT.." then you still have hope.
Hope is such a marvelous thing. It
bends, it twists,
it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else
can.
It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.
Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.
Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.
Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and
nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can
be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places.
Never lose hope.
Author Unknown
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JUDGE ME BY THE FOOTPRINTS I LEAVE BEHIND
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've got a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us." "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find some where to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Some one with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know. Their son had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Author Unknown
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!! There's a miracle called friendship that dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift It always brings and you realize that Friendship is one of God's most precious gifts! Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.*********************************************************************************************************
Challenged
Some say I am disabled,
But you know that isn't true.
I simply have a challenge
A little different from you.
My slight inconvenience, has
taught me
Things they could not know.
Each obstacle is a victory,
Enabling me to grow.
I'm not really any different,
I cry, I laugh, I snore.
I don't want to be treated
As if I'm not a person anymore.
Out of good intentions,
People are afraid to let me try.
But sometimes I have to fall,
And sometimes I need to cry.
God gives me strength and dignity,
And the courage to be all I can be.
For He doesn't see me as disabled,
He just sees me as me.
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A Gift From Heaven
He was different than the others
he needed extra care,
so God sent him special parents
to watch while he was there.
They loved him more than life itself,
but sometimes wondered why
God had sent this special child to them
from heaven up on high.
He's a gift from up above,
sent from heaven just to share your love.
You have the kind of spirit he'll need, you see
he's a gift from heaven, from heaven above.
This child God has sent to you,
because you are special too.
You have the kind of spirit
he will need to see him through.
Not just anyone could raise this child
the way God would want them to.
He's counting on you to do
the best that you can do.
God will help you all along the way,
he'll never leave your side.
He's watching you and smiling
in heaven up on high.