Yesterday was the first of many days that I am going to have that piercing feeling of being stabbed in the heart over and over again.
Yesterday was the first of many days where I am going to have to stand up and fight for my daughter because she can't fight for herself.
Yesterday was the first of many days where I am going to have to pray for compassion on people instead of wanting to inflict pain on them...even if they are just teenage boys!
In our neighborhood we have several boys who play together that are all around the ages of 11-14 and for the most part they all get along well. It just so happens to have hit the fan this past week while we were on vacation. I am going to protect the names of the kids here so I am changing them!
This is the conversation that happened between 2 boys in the neighborhood:
Ralph - Your mom doesn't have any friends, all she does is water her flowers.
Frank - my mom has friends so shut up.
Ralph - Your brother is going to end up retarded just like Shane's sister!
Frank said nothing and punched Ralph in the mouth!
Yesterday Frank told Shane what happened and my son's heart is broken. He is angry, mad, sad, and every other emotion you can think of. Shane loves his sister more than anything else in this entire world. For him, yesterday was the first of many days he would have to stand up for his sister.
When Dan told me about this my heart sank in to the lowest part of my belly. It was like I was on a roller coaster ride and I was just tipping over the highest peak and racing downhill. That kind of feeling but not in a good way. My heart instantly hurt for Sophie, for Shane.
And then I was angry!
I contacted the mother of Frank and we had a conversation about what happened. She is equally as upset but it is different for her. She doesn't have a child that is non verbal or one that doesn't walk yet. As much as it sucked to hear that from her son, this is the reality that we live in every single day.
Unfortunately, Ralph's mom isn't someone who will do anything about what was said so there is no use in going to her about this. Ralph is 12, I believe, and it isn't like I can go and deal with him. So, as my great friend told me last night, I need to show him compassion and have Shane do the same.
Do you know how hard this is?
Compassion wasn't the first thing that I thought I should do or give. Compassion is something I show to hurting people, kids, animals, elderly. Not some punk kid who runs his mouth. Then I am reminded by the same friend that hurt people hurt people. Stepping back and looking at this kids home life it is obvious to see where it stems from. He doesn't have a dad around and he and his mom talk to one another like they are buddies in a bar.
So, today I ask for your prayers for me to be able to show compassion to this boy.
Moving forward I ask all of you to stop and think about what comes out of your mouth and how it can affect someone else. Choose to affect them in a positive way!
P.S...Sophie blows them all out of the water!
