I enjoy reading, but I don’t read as much as I should probably because I have to admit I love TV. But this enjoyment of reading was instilled upon me by my dad. For Christmases, birthdays, graduations, he would gift us a book with a note inside of it. Some of the notes are quite sentimental and other times he’s just recommending a good read. I love this tradition. I’ve started going back through the children’s books he gave me and reading them to Harper.
Recently I pulled out Just the Way You Are by Max Lucado. I opened it up and saw the inscription on the cover – “Congratulations on the completion of 5th grade…Never forget that you are deeply loved.” What a sweet note to reread almost 20 years later. Then I dove in and started reading the story to Harper.
The story begins with a king deciding to adopt four orphans. Anticipating the arrival of the king, the children focus on perfecting a skill to impress the king; but the youngest didn’t feel like she had a special gift to offer. When the king arrived, he was wearing normal clothes, so the children didn’t recognize him as the king. One by one the king visited each child, but they were so busy perfecting their skill they ignored him – all but the youngest. She spent time with who she thought was just a normal traveler. When the king revealed his identity the youngest is shocked and is ashamed that she has nothing to offer him. The king responded, “My dear, you gave the best gift of all – you gave your heart…your kindness, your time, your love. Of course you’ll be my child. I love you just the way you are.” I closed the book with tears in my eyes.
Thinking about Harper’s future can be scary sometimes. We don’t know what medical things might pop up or how independent she will be, but I’m confident that she will know she is loved and will love others. She’s the little girl in this book! In some ways she won’t be bogged down by the world’s worries and that can be a tremendous gift. Harper’s diagnosis has stripped away the unimportant dreams for her life and left me with what really matters. It’s hard to let go, but it’s a reminder to look to what is truly good.
Love this Laurie! I will check out that book too!
Yes, this! “Harper’s diagnosis has stripped away the unimportant dreams for her life and left me with what really matters.” This is what I have always loved about Harper, about people with Down – they are so open with their love and affection. Perhaps what got stripped away were ambitions. And what we are left with is to be loved and to love others and there is no more important goal for a life.