“Specialness” for Kim

 

In life come challenges that just seem almost too hard to comprehend. They are problems that many look to study in order to solve. Others choose to labor over them just to make them make sense. Both, only to find that life itself often boils down to very complex exponentials that is practically unsolvable and force you to redefine life itself.

What happens when in your new definition of life you learn that you have been dealt an unfair hand? You have been presented with challenges that are seemingly overwhelming. You wake in the middle of the night wondering why your life is so suddenly unfair while the lives of so many others seem so suddenly easy. The friends who once leaned on you for support in their life's problems now seem to have been complaining for nothing. The trials and tribulations in their lives are now petty. The hand you have been dealt is just that challenging.

For some the redefining of life is the redefinition of self. The challenge in the problem is answered by the defining aspects of their character. They develop an altruism that is indescribable. They have a sense of self that is the epitome of patience and discipline and they are able to balance the things in life that no one wants to deal with.

When our children are born we check to see if they have ten fingers and ten toes while they let out their first cry that will in weeks of time will be the source of sleepless nights. The first hurdle is cleared before some stumble over a hidden hurdle in the journey of parenthood. It can be years later that parents learn their children have challenges that set them apart from the walk of life as it was once known. This ruthless card dealt from deep within life's deck of cards is what brings them to their best. They adapt to this challenge and remain true and strong unto themselves while they commit a new level of dedication. This defining moment in life does not define them or who they are; it serves to strengthen their resolute position that life and what it holds will not defeat them.

They have a unique perspective on life because they live and understand life differently. What most take for granted is a great luxury in life. Their word is a sacred pact with whomever it is shared. From them is much to be learned.

Commitment to a given cause. A word given with intent of always keeping it. An altruistic sense of life. Imagine if we all carried these traits as defining characteristics of our own being. Our world would be a better world. Some understand that their world is only as good as the world is for others. The parent of some one of "specialness" has defined this understanding and refined the world of another to make their world a better world, which makes the world for us all just a bit richer with a touch more hope.

Thank them. They more than deserve it!

For some life is no longer taken for granted. It is a precious gift that is made sweet through persistence of character and the unconditional acceptance of challenge. Every day they face what many deny exists and do it with a sense of dignity and humility that most of do not even realize we need to be successful in life. Many have put the personal aspects of their lives on hold to become a better provider, protector and parent; while other parents spend their evenings in clubs and bars having not grown into parenthood (or adulthood for that matter). The fundamentals are perfected and built upon. The very principles of parenthood that masses of today seem to missing, they have mastered. Instead of heeding their actions, we look past them because we so desperately hope that what they have to deal with, we do not. The whole time we do this, we lose out on the keys of making our own world a better place. There is perfection found in imperfection; you just have to look and appreciate what you see.