Part II: I’m Not Sorry

January 21, 2013May 8, 2019 Leisa Hammett

In well-meaning moments of empathy, friends and acquaintances often offer up an “I’m sorry” for another’s (sometimes assumed) pain. I wrote about that here, in regards to recent events in my Life. A Facebook comment about my daughter reminded me that, again, well-meaning strangers, even, offer up sympathies when our children’s lives don’t fit the model that society identifies as perfect or “normal.”

Walking Every Autism Parent Has A Wal-Mart Story” post.) Plus, there were passersby that day at the park.

But, sorry? No, seeing these young people was the height of unadulterated Joy. Oh, to be so free.

When “sorry” is offered up to our differently abled children, the point is missed. These children, these special individuals with perhaps “souls too large for their bodies” (an aboringinal belief), bring a purity, an innocence, an opportunity to serve, a tremendous chance to learn tolerance and abundant lessons to be taught.

Sorry? No, again. Yes, it’s difficult. Again, hell, yeah! But, these lives different from our own cannot and should not be reduced to pity. No parties for pity here. I’m RSVP-ing: “No.” Permanently. Instead: I’m hosting celebrations that I am so blessed to be so challenged and so stretched and so gifted with something so wonderfully different. In humility, I offer up: Thank. You. Thank you.