Heaven’s special child
Becoming a parent is a capability that God has given to most of us. But being a parent of a special child is a privilege that God gives to a select few.
Let me introduce my most precious gift in the world - my son, Kartik. Born with an developmental abnormality he is visually challenged in his one eye and has myopia in the other eye.
Though not visible @ a casual glance, I came to know about this on the first day. He was only 8 hours old when he had his first eye sonograpgy and color doppler test. It was a gut wrenching moment, especially since we had to take him to a doctor without my wifes knoweldge and hence he was hungry and hurt during the entire period.
When reality sank in me that my son is blind in one eye - it hit me like a 10 ton hammer. The joy of being a parent - of your first child, the dreams seen for almot 7-8 months blurred in the face of the strak reality. The thoughest part was to put up a smiling face in front of my wife - as we didn’t want her to know for atleast 3 months- so she would have time to recuperate from the child-birth.
When something like this happens the first question you ask the almight is “Why!!! Why me? What have I ever done to deserve this? When have I ever wronged someone ? Never? Then WHY?!?!?!”
I know, it’s an question that has no answers and it sounds really stupid when I am writing it but I was in no position to think straight at that time.
There was this one poem (written by Edna Massimilla of Hatboro, Pa., the widow of a pastor, when their daughter, a child with Down syndrome, was born.) that I came across on the net that changed the way I saw things…
A meeting was held quite far from Earth
It was time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the Lord above –
This special child will need much love.
Her progress may be very slow
Accomplishment she may not show.
And she’ll require extra care
From the folks she meets down there.
She may not run or laugh or play
Her thoughts may seem quite far away
So many times she will be labeled
‘different,’ ‘helpless’ and disabled.
So, let’s be careful where she’s sent.
We want her life to be content.
Please, Lord, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.
They will not realize right away
The leading role they are asked to play.
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith, and richer love.
And soon they’ll know the privilege given
In caring for their gift from heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is heaven’s very special child.”
Now you know why I say that being a parent of a special child is a privilege that God gives to a select few.