Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Cat and Dog (09/04/14)
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TITLE: Small Miracles | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Milkiewicz
09/11/14 -
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She allowed her mind to drift back to the day of his birth. She was so excited to finally become a mother. Those final moments were so scary, though, when the doctors found the cord wrapped around his neck. Everything that happened next was such a blur. They had warned her that he had been without oxygen for too long, that he’d never be normal. She’d lived in denial for a long time. Timmy had acted like any other baby, but each birthday was a reminder that he’d never be the child she had hoped for. Every birthday was a day of mourning for her.
Shaking herself out of her funk, she looked down at the cherubic face of her little boy and her heart swelled with love.
“Come on, buddy, let’s head to the park.”
She loaded Timmy into his stroller and headed out to enjoy one of the last days of summer. Gazing longingly at the children running and playing on the playground, Rachel didn’t notice the dog until it was too late. Within moments, a shaggy Golden Retriever had his paws up on Timmy’s stroller, his tongue furiously licking his face. Panicked, the owner came running up behind to pull the dog off the child.
Timmy was nothing but smiles and giggles. Rachel had never heard him laugh so hard. Suddenly, Timmy reached out his little hand and pointed at the animal. “Dog!” he uttered, clear as day. Rachel’s eyes filled with tears. His first word!
Rachel spent the rest of the day on a high, telling the story to anyone who would listen. She and her husband spent the evening redoubling their efforts to get him to speak, showing him all his stuffed animals and telling him their names.
Weeks went by without any progress, and Rachel fell back into discouragement. One fall morning, she and Timmy were sitting out on the deck, watching the leaves dance to the ground. The neighbor’s tabby leaped onto the deck railing. Rachel thought nothing of it, until Timmy’s eyes went wide and he pointed. Out came one small syllable. “Cat!”
Rachel thanked God for giving her these moments. The fall turned into winter, and the winter melted into spring. She took Timmy to every pet store, every petting zoo in the area, and surrounded him with animals. Still, no more words came. Day to day life was draining Rachel. She began to wonder if she had imagined Timmy speaking. The more she longed for him to progress, the harder it was to see him trapped in the body that he had been given.
After a particularly frustrating day spent watching her sister’s two year old surpass her son in every way, she plopped Timmy down on the floor with some blocks and slumped down next to him. She couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. All she ever wanted was a normal child. Was that too much to ask? Sure, she loved Timmy, but there were so many things he would never be able to do. Why had God called her to this life?
Timmy looked over at Rachel and clambered clumsily into her lap. He reached up and touched a tear with his finger. Pointing that finger at her nose, he uttered the word that changed Rachel’s life.
“Mama.”
Rachel’s heart melted and she hugged him close.
“That’s right, baby. I’m your mama. Don’t you ever forget it.”
She knew that no matter what happened, if Timmy never spoke another word, never learned to walk, it would all be ok. She was his mama, and she loved every minute of it. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks to God for giving her the privilege of being his mother. He was perfect in God’s eyes, and perfect in hers as well.
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God bless~
I like this one a lot.
God bless~