Why Us?

Why me? Why us? These questions nagged me when waiting for Matthew's chromosome test results after his birth. "I'm not strong enough to handle this," I recall saying in my distressed emotional state. "You'll find the strength," my oldest sister-in-law gently reassured me. It sounded promising. But how?

Without fully realizing it at the time, my family was my strength during the wait and the first few months that followed. I listened to everything positive and leaned on them because all I had was doubt. God doesn't make mistakes. God has a plan which may not be known at the present time. God will reveal it through time.

Over time, the doubt went away. In it's place was strength, as promised. I found it from loving Matthew and caring for him with every breath and wanting only what was best for him. I found it in Bill. I found it in the encouragement offered from extended family. I found it in supportive old friends. I found it within the large network of families who have kids with Down syndrome. That's how I found strength.

Today, a facebook friend posted inspiring words that ring so true for me. I consider it the answer to my "Why me? Why us?" questions.

‎"God doesn't give children with special needs to strong people; He gives children with special needs to ordinary, weak people and then gives them strength. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."