Recently, I was perusing a website entitled –
“SAVING DOWN SYNDROME”
It stirred two conflicting thoughts;
It’s my juxtaposed reality-
I love Bethany- down syndrome and all-
but in truth, I’d love to see the damage from that extra chromosome disabled or its power diminished! It works overtime with oxidative stress on their bodies and brains- that’s what I’d like to end. And I’m very thankful for all the new, innovative, medical and therapeutic breakthroughs there are that beneficial to our kids!
But- on the other hand-
I embrace, rejoice, and yes, even celebrate down syndrome
because I believe God is glorified in a magnificent way
in each one who has LOVE TREASURE
woven throughout the fiber of their DNA!
When people elect to terminate, abort, throw-away- refuse
these “gifts that come wrapped in a special package” –
We systematically rid our society- and ourselves- of one of the greatest blessings God could ever bless us with;
lessons of love and purpose,
identity and significance.
[Tweet “Each life is #precious- #abortion cheats us from knowing the #gift of our own flesh and blood.”]
We’re cheating ourselves- bankrupting our understanding of God’s unconditional love and acceptance-
because we can’t – and won’t accept what we perceive as imperfection in our lives.
If we refuse one of these little ones,
we are refusing to love as God loves us- fully and unconditionally.
The ugly drumbeat of eugenics must not drive us to abandon God’s law of love!
Every person is God ordained & the fingerprint of God is seen in each strand of DNA!
Life isn’t about perfection, performance, or pedigree
it’s about honoring the gift of life God has graced us with,
and expressing His unconditional love to all.
[Tweet “Life is about how we #love- not pedigree, perfection, or performance. #downsyndrome”]
That’s why we should SAVE DOWN SYNDROME!
I praise you God for giving me good gifts! Thank you for everything that comes into my life and how you have given surprising treasure hidden in mysterious places throughout our life journey! Thank you for our Bethany- the best gift we never knew we needed or wanted- down syndrome treasure is untold treasure.
You never cease to amaze me with your writing. You are able to express in words exactly what I and many other parents of special needs feel. Thanks for all you share.
I absolutely love you Angela! In so many ways- we all belong to a “community” we never signed up for- thought there are differences in what we face in our journey- our love, pain, hope and dreams, for our children are the constant in our lives. I’m so glad the Lord crossed our lives- blessings as you encourage everyone that “ALL are precious in His sight!”
If only the world could see Bethany the way we do. If only the world could see these children as the precious gifts they are. Problems and all, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I think the world would be a better place if we just thought about that a little more.
Amen Micah! Aren’t we blessed to be given such a “hidden” treasure. And Bethany is equally blessed to be given such compassionate, loving, visionary siblings and their wives! What a family God is letting her grow up in!
Thank you for the 1000’s of people around the world who are now reading Cindy’s blog. It is so important to get this message out. All people bare the image of our Creator. All of us are broken and marred image-bearers. As we approach the day we “celebrate” our Savior’s victory over death, we can also delight in the reality of our future resurrection in wholeness!
Ahhhh- the future of wholeness! Who can’t relate to the longing of being made whole? We can’t praise Jesus enough for stepping into our messy world and dying to save us!
One of the treasures I’ve learned from those diagnosed with Down syndrome is how they truly live in the present. Since most of my life was chomping on the bit to reach for something future, it is only with aging that I realize the difference. I’m so glad that you are able to share your experience with the rest of us via this blog. You are precious in His sight, dear Cindy! Thanks muchly.
That is a treasure isn’t it? Sometimes, I get in such an all fire hurry! Hurry Up Bethany- c’mon- we gotta get going and she just looks at me with those pure, lovely eyes & smiles- her lack of hurry up- grounds me and makes me be more in the moment! Thank you for always encouraging me sweet sister- you help me keep “bloggin on”
Simple gorgeous post. So full of LOVE!!! No way to read this and not praise Him.
Thank you so much Julie! It helped me to order my thinking to verbalize the war inside- LOVE is the foundation, the building, the covering- the beginning and the ending point! blessings and hugs