Guest post originally written and shared by Viola Contreras, an Indiana homeschooling mother of four.
I was talking with a friend the other night about Zeke being 10 years old, and I mentioned that if I could go back in time and give myself a pep talk here is what I would say. After Zeke was born and we had the official test results back, as we slowly told our family… my dad gave me the best, and wisest advice. He said “It doesn’t mean anything” and as a new mom I didn’t understand.
Ten years later, I understand and am still learning to understand.
Down Syndrome has not meant anything. What mattered was and still is Zeke. So If I was able to go back and give that new mom some advice, here is what I would say…
“It doesn’t mean anything that Zeke won’t walk until he is 26 months old, because he is going to love running and will win gold in the Special Olympics. It doesn’t mean anything that Zeke won’t talk until almost 4 years old because one day he is going to love acting and have lines in plays at church, is going to memorize scripture, and is going to love to sing. It doesn’t mean anything that Zeke won’t learn his alphabet until he’s 7 because he is going to be a good speller, is going to love to read, and you will have to tell him to put the books down. It doesn’t mean anything that Zeke needs to spend countless hours in therapy because he is going to be great at sports, is going to be better at puzzles than most kids his own age, and is going to be able to do everything doctors said he wouldn’t do. It doesn’t mean anything that Zeke has Down Syndrome, because Down Syndrome does not make or define who Zeke is as a person. He is going to be smart and silly, clever and caring, outgoing and a hard worker, and he is never going to give up. Down Syndrome doesn’t mean that your life is going to be any less, and in fact Down Syndrome means that your life is going to be more. Life is going to get scary at times. It’s going to be hard and you are going to feel like giving up but you won’t because Zeke won’t.”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.