By Paula Kavolius
"Ain't it kinda funny, at the dark end of the road, that someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope."
---Alabama, "Angels Among Us"
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for all the love and laughter that I have the privilege of experiencing every day at HOPe.
Thirty four years ago, I volunteered in a separate Chapter 766 classroom in my high school. I remember loving every minute of my time in that classroom. I remember Mary, Laura, Kathy, Biff and others in Mrs. Doorley’s classroom.
This room was outstanding in every sense of the word. Mrs. Doorley taught the class and was a unique individual who genuinely loved each and every one of her students. She created an environment that exuded kindness, patience, compassion and acceptance.
I remember coming home from school one day and asking my mother, “Mom, what is the big deal about special needs kids?” My mother said, “What do you mean?” I replied, “Why do people talk about kids who have special needs as if it’s a negative?” My mother answered, “Well, those are God’s special children and their mothers are saints”. I remember telling her, “Mom, I think you may be right because those special needs kids are the happiest people I know and I love being around them.”
I couldn't have known back then that I would have the honor and blessing of becoming a parent of a child with special needs. My mother had the, "God’s special children" part right but when she talked about the mothers being saints, excluding me of course, -ask my husband- I think that these children make each and every person that they come in contact with saints. They are our teachers on earth and if we pay good attention, we will learn all we need to about how to be the best we can be.
I’ve learned that children with special needs never want to hurt the feelings of others. They never criticize each other and always root for each other. Their ability to accept each other exactly as they are is amazing. They know that beauty truly does come from within and they don’t judge others. Imagine if everyone we knew understood these simple truths.
In the bible, there are several references to, “the first being last and the last being first.” Corinthians 6:2 states, Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” It is my belief that God’s special children are angels/saints in our world. I have no doubt that these children are pure souls. They are kind, compassionate, supportive, hard working, energetic, optimistic, and above all humble.
Do you believe in angels?
Do you think there are any more likely angels on earth than children with special needs?