Seems like almost everywhere you go (but ESPECIALLY in houses with teens), you hear "whatever!" as a response. Often it is stated with an eye roll or 2 when someone asks him/her a question and they get frustrated or don't seem to care about the issue.
I thought about this just a couple of days ago as I read through Philippians and ran across the verse with whatever and a nice list of things to think about....and I was going to write about it. However, sometimes procrastination has a purpose as explained below the verse.
Philippians 4:7-9 (NIV) 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Tonight while watching TV a blurb came on about Sarah Palin, Down's Syndrome and the show Family Guy. Hmmmm. Interesting combination. Apparently, the show Family Guy recently showed an episode of a Downs girl with Palin-ish glasses that stated her mom was the former governor of Alaska. Later there was a song and dance about Downs Syndrome.
I am not a fan of Family Guy anyway, but this was sinking to a new low....even for them. However, star fans of the show stated there is such a thing as "First Amendment Rights" and "free speech". The show creator, Seth Mac Farlane stated that the show is "an equal opportunity offender". I'm sure there are some people who will just say "whatever!??!?".
To me, and I hope to others also, this is a wake up call to the verses above. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, but we are responsible for what we fill our hearts and minds with. Sometimes that means walking out of a theater or turning off the TV or reading something else. So start looking for whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.
Showing posts with label Downs Syndrome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downs Syndrome. Show all posts
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Special Needs Kids - Italy or Holland Enjoy the sights!
The other day I had been feeling kind of down. I felt like I was losing at the game of Life. I was feeling overwhelmed (I HATE that feeling). Over the last few weeks, I've had a few dreams die....BUT that leaves room for new dreams.
Since then, I have reminded myself that my spiritual armor is always there just WAITING for me to use it. (Ephesians 6:10-18, next post) So as I put on my shoes of peace and grab my shield of faith, I believe I was led to an explanation that helped me make it through that day...and those that follow.
I wrote the part between the ===== to the resource room teacher when I found the following as I felt it would help some other parents as well.
I found out later that Emily Perl Kingsley (the author) had a Downs Syndrome son and wrote for Sesame Street among other things. Further info I found out is listed at the bottom. I believe these words can cover many disabilities - visible or not.
===============================================
I was clicking to check something else, but this was at the top. I think I
was supposed to read this today. I believe this explains things pretty
well. Guess part of the hard part is realizing I'm in Holland....and the
special needs aren't always visible which makes it hard for others to
understand sometimes.
Found on
http://imom.com/brewing/
10/31/07
================================================
Encouragement Story
Parenting a Special Needs Child
By Emily Perl Kingsley
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a
disability to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience
to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this:
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation
trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans:
the Coliseum, Michelangelo's David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn
some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your
bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess
comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and
there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible,
disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just
a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than
Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath,
you look around and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills – and
Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy ... and they're
all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of
your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's
what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away, because the loss
of that dream is a very, very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy,
you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things
about Holland.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emily Pearl Kingsley’s article has been widely circulated in support groups and medical circles.Please credit as follows: As published in “That All May Worship and Serve,” July, 2002, as published on the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries web site at http://www.uccdm.org/2000/07/21/acceptance-of-your-child-welcome-to-holland/ Most recent contact information for Emily Pearl Kingsley: 12 Justine Ct Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510-2534 (914) 923-2995
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Perl_Kingsley
Since then, I have reminded myself that my spiritual armor is always there just WAITING for me to use it. (Ephesians 6:10-18, next post) So as I put on my shoes of peace and grab my shield of faith, I believe I was led to an explanation that helped me make it through that day...and those that follow.
I wrote the part between the ===== to the resource room teacher when I found the following as I felt it would help some other parents as well.
I found out later that Emily Perl Kingsley (the author) had a Downs Syndrome son and wrote for Sesame Street among other things. Further info I found out is listed at the bottom. I believe these words can cover many disabilities - visible or not.
===============================================
I was clicking to check something else, but this was at the top. I think I
was supposed to read this today. I believe this explains things pretty
well. Guess part of the hard part is realizing I'm in Holland....and the
special needs aren't always visible which makes it hard for others to
understand sometimes.
Found on
http://imom.com/brewing/
10/31/07
================================================
Encouragement Story
Parenting a Special Needs Child
By Emily Perl Kingsley
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a
disability to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience
to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this:
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation
trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans:
the Coliseum, Michelangelo's David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn
some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your
bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess
comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and
there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible,
disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just
a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than
Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath,
you look around and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills – and
Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy ... and they're
all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of
your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's
what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away, because the loss
of that dream is a very, very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy,
you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things
about Holland.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emily Pearl Kingsley’s article has been widely circulated in support groups and medical circles.Please credit as follows: As published in “That All May Worship and Serve,” July, 2002, as published on the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries web site at http://www.uccdm.org/2000/07/21/acceptance-of-your-child-welcome-to-holland/ Most recent contact information for Emily Pearl Kingsley: 12 Justine Ct Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510-2534 (914) 923-2995
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Perl_Kingsley
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