What We Do, Makes a Difference

Thanks to my friend, Mary Kay, for sending this to me.  Thought you all might enjoy it…

The Beatitudes for Friends of Exceptional Children

Blessed are you who take time to listen to difficult speech: 
For you help us to know that if we persevere, 
We can be understood. 

Blessed are you who walk with us in public places, 
And ignore the stares of strangers, 
For in your companionship, 
We find havens of peace. 

Blessed are you who never bid us to "hurry up", 
And more blessed are you 
Who do not snatch tasks from our hands to do them for us, 
For often we need time rather than help. 

Blessed are you who stand beside us 
As we enter new and untried ventures, 
For our failures will be outweighed 
By the times we surprise ourselves and you. 

Blessed are you who ask for our help, 
For our greatest need is to be needed. 

Blessed are you when you assure us, 
That the one thing that makes us individuals 
Is not in our peculiar muscles, 
Nor in our wounded nervous systems, 
Nor in our difficulties in learning, 
Nor any exterior difference. 

But is in our inner, personal, individual self 
Which no infirmity can diminish or erase.

Elizabeth