Check in

[Guest guest]

I'm a relatively new member to the group, and like most of you are

so busy I can hardly think. It's nice to know that there are others

out there that are feeling overwhelmed at times, like me. My girls

are Madeline 9 years old, and Kayley and Adrienne 2 years old.

Adrienne has DS. She is doing extremely well, but mom is feeling a

little crazy with therapies and appointments, etc. Hopefully things

will settle down after the holidays...hopefully. Thanks to all of

you who encourage each other and share knowledge. I still feel like

I don't know what I don't know, so reading your experiences gets me

thinking about the future and what to look forward to next. I'm

sure many of you may have seen this excerpt to " The Clowns of God "

but I will share it with any who haven't because it really touched

me.

" In a poignant scene at the end of West's novel THE CLOWNS OF

GOD, Jesus has made his presence known in the midst of a small

French community the night before Christmas. It is the eve of World

War III, and a terrified world is bracing for nuclear holocaust.

As a small group of political and church leaders look on, Jesus

lifts a mentally handicapped child out of her high chair, kisses her

and sits her on his knee. He dips a crust of bread in wine and

feeds it to her, morsel by morsel. As he does so, Jesus says:

" 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 conjuror. I

gave this mite a gift I denied 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 ants. She will never offend me, as all of you have

done. She will never pervert or destroy the work of {my} 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 that every day I am who I

am, that my ways are not your ways and that the smallest dust mote

whirled in the 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! "

Hope you all can find some peace this holiday season. We were

chosen for our little ones because we can handle it(even when we

think we can't) and love them like no one else.

Cyndy