I just attended a meeting at the Center for Persons with Disabilities today. It is an Advisory Council made up of people in the community who have are invested in advocating for people with disabilities. My role is as a parent; there was a married couple there who are self-advocates who have developmental disabilities. I was fascinated as I watched them together. They are truly so happy being together and I could see how much they loved each other as they teased and laughed together. We had a sandwich during the meeting and as the husband was talking to the group, his wife was trying to wipe some mayonnaise off of his cheek, kind of like we do with Scott, only with her finger. She just kept at it the whole time he was talking and he didn't mind in the least. I could see that they take good care of each other.
As I watched him eat, his tongue pushing his food out between his teeth as some people with disabilities do, and watched his feet splayed out like Scott's do, it made me realize that all they needed was love. Love overlooks flaws and weaknesses. Love makes us happy just to be with someone. Love doesn't judge another. Love doesn't just look on the outside. Love is pure and innocent. It doesn't take a genius to give love. It takes someone with a lot of heart to simply love someone else.
That is why I am so drawn to people with disabilities; they love openly, completely, simply, innocently. It's in their eyes, and in their smiles, and in their laughter. It is something to strive for, being able to love that completely, without worrying about how someone looks, or what they say or do.
It is the way that I want to love others. It's the way that I love all of you. Completely without restraint.
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