The Constant

We are in short season here, and so far doing pretty good.  It’s amazing how far I have come since last summer.  I have no doubt that the reason I handle things better is because I have this beautiful, inspiring boy by my side.

Don’t get me wrong, I will never accept the stares at my child’s leg.  But so far, I haven’t cried and I haven’t felt that sense of violent rage like I have before.  Thus far we’ve experienced many comments and questions and stares.  Now there are two types of stares, stares of curiosity and stares of ignorance.  Here I go contradicting myself, because I am getting a little fired up inside thinking about some of the latter, but in the moment I was okay. 

Right or wrong, over the past week I have decided that for now, my hope is that when we are out and about that people don’t say anything about his leg.  I know that for the most part people notice it, but I guess I just don’t like to always talk about.  I just want Eli to play and enjoy life like any other kid and not have to sit and explain FH to curious strangers.  I might not feel like that forever, but that’s just where I am at with it today.

We did have a neat experience today at the park.  There was a man in a wheelchair, and well, Eli LOVES wheels so he had to go check out the chair.  The man had been severely burned and was a below the knee amputee on one leg and wasn’t wearing a prosthetic.  When we approached, he made a comment about how he wished he had his leg on because he likes to pop it off for kids (kinda weird I know, but whatever).  I happily told him that Eli was also an amputee, and immediately this man commented on how well Eli was getting along.  It was obvious that Eli inspired him today, and I am so thankful that God made that happen for that guy.

Thankfully, I think Eli is still too young this summer to get it.  He is so busy being happy and exploring the world, and is so filled with love and light that he doesn’t notice any of it.  But what about next year?  Next year, he’ll know…he’ll get it.  I have no idea what I’ll say nor how I will explain it all to him, but I just pray that God speaks through me and gives me the perfect words to say to my baby.