My stepson recently posted a photo of himself and our youngest daughter on social media with the caption, “Her extra chromosome makes her extra cute!” My first reaction was, “That is too sweet!” Then, I had a protective spirit come over me. Although I know God makes no mistakes and I see all three of my daughters as beautiful and perfectly made, others may be cruel and judgmental. Others may feel sympathetically towards us because we are living with the beauty of Down Syndrome. When I see a typical child sitting up on her own that is the same age as my youngest daughter, I wonder when our little girl will sit up by herself or say her first word. Most women by nature are relational and try to see how others are doing. I truly believe that is reflective of a compassionate heart. Compassion is what makes us great mothers, wives, and friends! Where we go wrong is after asking how others are, we follow up by asking ourselves, “How is my child doing compared to her child?” or “How am I doing compared to her?” Around the holidays, it is especially easy to feel inferior to “Holiday Queens” that seem to make their homes and lives picture perfect! I have to consistently remind my two older daughters that “We are not in competition with one another because we are on the same team!” Our story and strengths belong to us. Each life is unique and has a purpose. Whether we are lacking holiday decorating skills, whether we have a heart defect, or if we have an extra chromosome, we are all beautiful in our own way and let us never mistake sympathy for compassion. As we explore our unique strengths and live them out with others, let’s remember as moms, we are all on the same team and imperfectly perfect!
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AuthorI write about life and family. My heart's desire is to educate as I am being educated, while inspiring and encouraging others through the beauty of Down Syndrome. |