This is Matthew-
He is my 5 year old brother and if you met him, like everyone else, you'd say how sweet and adorable he is. He has the biggest heart I have ever known a child to have and he is always looking out for someone other than himself.
He is not perfect. He has eyes that don't see as well as some and he gets sick often. He does not have a classified disability. But he does have a friend that has a hint of down syndrome. Eva is in his preschool class and they are really good friends. I believe he even calls her his girlfriend (one of a couple).
He shows concern for her and all of his other friends. He is not judgmental of her and he wants HER to like him for who HE is. He is upset if Eva is hurt by him, or if he thinks she doesn't want to be his friend anymore. Matthew looks at Eva as if she is just like him. He doesn't see that she is different from him anymore than he sees that he is different from anyone else. He has not been told that Eva may be more different. He has not grown up to think anything differently about her.
Matthew sees Eva just like he sees any other friend. He is concerned for her well being and feelings.
No one on this earth is perfect. We all have disabilities, you could say, that make us less perfect than our Heavenly Father. So, spread the word to end the word. The "R-word" is rude, ignorant, mean, hurtful and ignorant to use. Those that have disabilities around you may or may not be able to do the same things that you can. They may look differently, hear differently, speak differently, act differently, or even understand differently than you do, but this does not mean that they are "less than" or "slower" than you are. They have feelings of joy, hurt, anger, sadness, happiness, frustration, anxiety, and inadequacy. They are people. Eva is a child of God who is loved and befriended by those around her. Be aware of how you speak to those around you. Be aware of how you look and act around those around you. But most of all, be aware of how you LOVE those around you.
Don't use the "r-word" or any other word like it.
Don't exclude those who are different from you.
Be loving and kind and respectful.
Look past others' differences as you would hope your differences would be overlooked and even celebrated.
I am different.
You are different.
Matthew is different.
Your friends are all different.
Our differences make us who we are.
Remember that, next time you see someone who is different from you.
SPREAD THE WORD, TO END THE WORD.
show love to those around you.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE DIFFERENT! AND CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU SEE.
Be the change you would like to see in the world.
