As we were walking around at one point I was thinking about how it all looked like a magazine... with one difference... most of those "picture perfect" magazines aren't showing kids with special needs.
But as I looked around all I could think was "these are my people."
I have been a part of a lot of different groups over the years... from elementary school me who didn't fit in, to high school me on yearbook, choir and National Honor Society. From church to campus ministry.
But this group isn't one I went searching to join like I did the popular kids as a weird elementary school kid. Most parents don't have the picture in their heads of feeding pumps, wheelchairs and oxygen tanks.
But these are my people.
These are the people who genuinely asked questions for the betterment of their child. Discussions about feeding pumps and where to buy the cutest backpack.
For a little boy overwhelmed by the day and others understanding and helping in meaningful ways instead of judging.
For inclusion for everyone. They had a large parachute and they included everyone. Kids helped to push Jilli on the grass so she could join. Other kids moved the parachute from their wheelchair. Kids got to make suggestions on what to do and everyone was listened to, included and treated like they matter in the world. No one was considered less by their abilities, instead everyone was valued.
Special needs parents get viewed as harsh and demanding often and sadly we end up having to advocate for our children often and sometimes that is taken the wrong way or not executed as well as we ware intending.
However as I spent my weekend in the special needs world I saw a community of people who genuinely live life together even if it is just for a picnic for a couple of hours.
We were at RMH this weekend and someone we have met before walked into the kitchen and it was like a long lost friend walked in. Their child has a new tube and instantly those of us in the kitchen joined together to teach this family tricks and tips. We vented frustrations and celebrated joys. It was authentic. We assembled an Iv pole and discussed the different brands of feeding pumps. This is what living life with people is about.
At church on Sunday the message was about compassion and how that needs to be more then throwing money at something or posting on facebook that you will pray for someone and then never pray or do anything to help them and how that is not living life with people. Living life with people is joining them in the messes... the hard times and looking to see where you can help them based on their needs. (I wrote a post HERE about practical ways to help families of kids with medical needs) And as I looked around this weekend I saw that so much. I watched families supporting one another. I watched them living life together even if just for short amounts of time. I watched judgement free love for other people.
Its so easy to serve at people. There is someplace that I am involved with that it became the joke about how a group of people that was serving there must have been doing it out of obligation and not love because they treated the people they were serving like less then, but this weekend I was reminded the difference again between serving at others and joining others and the second makes a much bigger difference.
My people are ones who loves other. My people are ones who embrace people. My people are the once who have joined with us (both families with special needs and ones without). While things are different then I once imagined they would be, I am blessed by some of the best people, the best kids and the best family and I am so glad that these are my people!
For some reason today by youtube (we don't have cable so youtube is our main thing on TV) was filled with people talking about living life together. These VIEDO ONE and VIDEO TWO are both very different videos but both displayed how this can look in real life
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