Pity, Fear, and a Favor

Eric is now 5 years old...
It's been a while since I have deeply wrestled with his Down Syndrome...
Mostly, because it gets heavy sometimes and I need a chance to process the way God would have me and not my flesh.

Much of it is good-heavy.
He is giving and unselfish. I saw a couple kids gang up on him and rip a toy out of his hand, when if I could have been right beside him I could have helped Eric understand the situation. Eric didn't understand and the boys didn't understand that Eric didn't understand. He does not have the concept of "mine" for himself or others.

He is empathetic. A child started to cry today and Eric was beside himself. He caused more noise but his heart was breaking for the other child.

He is loving and joy-filled. The other night as I laid down until he fell asleep, he grabbed my face and started kissing me endlessly and then later giggled in his sleep.

He is healthy. We had a caseworker ask us about a list of conditions that Eric might be experiencing because of his condition and most we replied were able to reply in the negative.

These are the snapshots of Eric recently that are profound to this heart of mine and fill me with gratitude for the treasure God has given us.

Some of it is hard-heavy,
He is an escape artist and runner - we are kept on our toes while keeping him safe.
He is non-verbal - we are striving to learn more about how we can help his apraxia*.
He gets physical when it is hard for us to discern what he is wanting or if he feels bored.

And I wrestle...
because I want people to know this experience being his momma, the good and the bad,
but most of the responses I receive tend to boil down to pity or fear...

Pity
because life looks different for us. We are isolated many times because he needs almost constant attention or supervision. Or because the activity we have been asked to will be too much sensory stimulation for Eric. Or because Eric seems "broken", unable to do what 5 year old are usually able to do.

Fear
because Eric seems like he is too much to handle. Or because people don't want to say the "wrong" thing, they don't say anything at all.

This family would want no other life. Eric does not deserve pity, he is a wonderfully made delight to God and to his family and many others who choose to not to fear his challenges.

I have been asked many times throughout Eric's life how to be a support to us. I generally haven't had a clue or the needs have been unpredictable. in this particular season, I'd like to ask for a few favors.

Can you see Eric as a generous, loving, healthy kid 5 year old, who loves his family, cars, planes and books? Can you share your heart, ask questions, and feel free to communicate with us? Can you see his challenges and see them as ways to minister to him or his family? Can you see that Eric is more alike his peers than different, that our family is more like your family than different? Can you listen to us talk about those challenges and instead of pity or fear, pray for and encourage us that God will be with us and help us?  We would be so blessed if you would.

* http://www.apraxia-kids.org/guides/family-start-guide/what-is-childhood-apraxia-of-speech/