Crazy Cantwells

After watching a heartwarming, awe inspiring, amazing video this morning about a mother who chose to keep her baby, even though she KNEW he would have something wrong...I am so thankful for my blessings. This amazing mother gave birth to an sweet baby boy who not only had a cleft palate but cleft eyes. He eyes did not form. He is blind. You can probably imagine the stares, whispers, pointed fingers, and horrible comments that she received as a result. In the video she tells how hard it was at first. And then she tells of the joy that came and continues to bless her life. It's one of those stories that makes you feel so exceeding thankful for the tiny blessings that are all around you every day. This mother chose to keep this baby, not abort it. And when she did, she made a choice to be blessed each day by the sweet spirit of her son. She chose to love him the way that our Father in Heaven loves him. She chose the better way. I have only had small moments in my life when people have made rude comments about my parenting skills because I had a toddler who was throwing a huge screaming tantrum in the middle of the check-out lane. When that has happened I have wished I could say, "My child has Autism. You should go take some time to go learn about it." I have wanted to be unkind in return. But usually I would simply gather my children and get into my car as quickly as I could...while I was close to tears. Eventually we stopped going to stores with our toddler. Now those days seem like they happened eons ago. That toddler is now 10. NOW...he can go into stores with me and knows what to expect and how to handle it. These experiences and those of others make me think how vitally important it is that we show love and kindness to others. Instead of pointing fingers...instead of whispering negative comments... if more people could simply smile and allow themselves to be touched by the spirit of another. Lend a helping hand or find a positive thing to say when we see another who is struggling. One moment at a time, we can all make this world a better place to live in.