No Excuses

I was walking up the stairs with Ruthie the other day and just had one of those powerful moments where I was in awe of her ability to do anything she puts her mind to. I teared up because I quickly thought of all the adults I know who are paralyzed in life because of either something that happened to them in their past or because of a diagnosis they have been given. The cool thing about Ruthie is that she doesn't see herself as limited. I ask her to do hard things all the time like put on her shoes or feed herself and not once has she held up her little hand to say "but mom don't you see I have limitations". She is a no excuses kinda girl and I love that about her.

I have been thinking on this for several days as I have pondered the next steps in raising both she and Jack and how do I raise them to be people who see their "disabilities" as part of their story and not as their identity. I really believe that is the difference in people who succeed beyond their experiences/limitations and those who are forever strapped by them. I believe one way I do this is to give them an eternal perspective. Paul says in 2 Cor 4:17

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all"

Now you may be thinking, "but Ginny my experience (or diagnosis) is hardly light and momentary." Well, neither was Paul's from that standpoint. He was beaten, rejected, and imprisoned but still had this to say in light of eternity with Christ. Again, it is all in how you view it and I believe we must look at all of our experiences with an eternal perspective.

Finally, I think we can't be strapped by the world's definition of normal and the need to fit within that. Some of the most influential people in the world would qualify as abnormal by the world's standards, but it is what they did with that title that made them special. Where would Oprah be if it wasn't for her childhood experiences, Bill Gates if he wasn't borderline autistic, Jennifer Rothschild if she wasn't blind? It was the perspective that their abnormal life experiences or disability gave them that made them who they are.

One day Ruthie and Jack will be faced with the harsh reality that by the world's standards they are "different", but my hope is that they will take this as just part of their story and with an eternal perspective in their grasp, they will change the world.

Sam had his first soccer game Saturday. Here are a few pictures. He plays until the middle of November for anyone who wants to make a Saturday game.