Every Child Has A Purpose
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle B
It was Alpha's eightieth birthday and the party was grand. Relatives, friends, and neighbors came to celebrate the day with her. The porch, sunroom, and backyard were full of well-wishers. The tables along the back of the house were heavy with meats, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Alpha thought it was an elaborate affair. She was having fun.
Evening came and a few of Alpha's children stayed around. They had had so much fun planning the surprise and their efforts had been well rewarded. All the children and their families had come.
All except one. Kimmie's absence wasn't mentioned, but Alpha always missed her when the family got together. Kimmie had been gone ten years now. Alpha knew in her heart that when her husband died soon after, it was of a broken heart. They had been through so much with Kimmie. Her drowning was the last straw for him.
Alpha remembered the day of Kimmie's birth 33 years ago like it was yesterday. Alpha and Dick thought their family was complete, but at the age of 47, Alpha gave birth to Kimberly Marie. She was a sweet little girl with almond-shaped eyes. She had short, stubby little fingers and toes. They called her Kimmie.
Alpha and Dick took her home. Her brothers and sisters were so excited with Kimmie. They were much older than Kimmie and were very protective of her. When Kimmie was five, Alpha noticed that Kimmie didn't seem to advance like the others. Maybe Kimmie's just a little slower, she thought. But when they took her in for the kindergarten evaluation, Alpha and Dick got the news: Kimmie had Down Syndrome and very mild mental retardation.
Alpha didn't really know what that meant at the time, other than that Kimmie would always be slower. As the years progressed, however, she and Dick came to realize that Kimmie required special teachers, more patience, and closer supervision.
Alpha spent the next twelve years fighting for special education and then mainstream programs. She spoke to the schools, local leaders, and finally to Congress until programs were started, funding was put into place, and changes were made. Alpha realized if it hadn't been for Kimmie's birth, she would never have been aware of the needs of children with special needs. She and Dick had the chance to see many, many advances in the area.
At a graduation, Alpha had spoken to the students about Kimmie's first days of kindergarten, the special education classes, and finally the mainstreamed high school classes. She spoke to the parents of the many highs and lows of her life. And she repeated the words of her doctor so long ago: "Every child is precious, every child has a purpose, but Kimmie's life is destined to change other's lives." Indeed, Kimmie's existence had turned out to benefit all.
Evening came and a few of Alpha's children stayed around. They had had so much fun planning the surprise and their efforts had been well rewarded. All the children and their families had come.
All except one. Kimmie's absence wasn't mentioned, but Alpha always missed her when the family got together. Kimmie had been gone ten years now. Alpha knew in her heart that when her husband died soon after, it was of a broken heart. They had been through so much with Kimmie. Her drowning was the last straw for him.
Alpha remembered the day of Kimmie's birth 33 years ago like it was yesterday. Alpha and Dick thought their family was complete, but at the age of 47, Alpha gave birth to Kimberly Marie. She was a sweet little girl with almond-shaped eyes. She had short, stubby little fingers and toes. They called her Kimmie.
Alpha and Dick took her home. Her brothers and sisters were so excited with Kimmie. They were much older than Kimmie and were very protective of her. When Kimmie was five, Alpha noticed that Kimmie didn't seem to advance like the others. Maybe Kimmie's just a little slower, she thought. But when they took her in for the kindergarten evaluation, Alpha and Dick got the news: Kimmie had Down Syndrome and very mild mental retardation.
Alpha didn't really know what that meant at the time, other than that Kimmie would always be slower. As the years progressed, however, she and Dick came to realize that Kimmie required special teachers, more patience, and closer supervision.
Alpha spent the next twelve years fighting for special education and then mainstream programs. She spoke to the schools, local leaders, and finally to Congress until programs were started, funding was put into place, and changes were made. Alpha realized if it hadn't been for Kimmie's birth, she would never have been aware of the needs of children with special needs. She and Dick had the chance to see many, many advances in the area.
At a graduation, Alpha had spoken to the students about Kimmie's first days of kindergarten, the special education classes, and finally the mainstreamed high school classes. She spoke to the parents of the many highs and lows of her life. And she repeated the words of her doctor so long ago: "Every child is precious, every child has a purpose, but Kimmie's life is destined to change other's lives." Indeed, Kimmie's existence had turned out to benefit all.
