Les Jones: Read "Welcome to Holland" this Thanksgiving

November 23, 2006

Home Life > Read "Welcome to Holland" this Thanksgiving

From Emily Perl Kingsley's essay, "Welcome to Holland":

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 guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo 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.

Read the whole thing. I'm posting this not just as a reminder to be thankful for the health you and your family have, but also to be thankful for the people who adapt their lives to special needs children.

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Comments

When our boys were teenagers, Libby and I volunteered to teach a Sunday School class of three and four-year olds. Mark was one in our class. He was disabled in a number of ways and his parents knew before he was born what their, and his, struggle would be.

What a joy and blessing from God it was to teach that youngster. His smile lit up every room he entered.

I'm ever so thankful that his mom and dad refused to cancel his flight.

God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving Day...Alex

Posted by: Alex the Gripaholic at November 23, 2006