Wordless Wednesday

Life is not measured

by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments

that take our breath away. 

At his birthday party this year. 

Prior to planning the party, Nathan asked if he could have a sleepover. I asked if he wanted to ask 1 or 2 friends. He told me he needed to invite his BEST friends so there would be 5 plus him. I told him no. Not doing a sleepover for 6 middle school boys. We settled on a game room/laser tag/golf place and he was then also able to invite the girls from school who are also his friends.

After he gave me the list of friends to invite and went to school, I cried. For years and years we've worked, done therapies, facilitated opportunities to socialize, given tasks to initiate contact with other kids...and in middle school (a horrible place as I recall), he's managed to connect with kids who are his friends. 

Nathan has friends. 

I cry. I shed tears of joy that at least 9 kids at his school see beyond any awkwardness, forgive less eye contact than normal, and look deeper to the heart of the matter and the heart of Nathan. Nathan is kind and caring. He wants so much to find a way to connect and they have taken the time to become his friends...and his defenders. His friends to laugh with, share secrets with, call for help on  homework. They are real. They are wonderful. And they don't even seem to realize that there's anything 'different' about Nathan. 

Oh to have the eyes of these wonderful children who see just Nathan. They see who he is on the inside and aren't hung up on the delivery. Everyone should be so lucky as to have 9 friends like these in their lives.