Early Thursday morning, May 10, while browsing through the “2007 Youth
Celebration of Writing Contest” in the Daily Journal, I was delighted to see
an essay by All Saints’ own Mary Gray about her experience as a staff member
for the Special Session at Camp Bratton-Green. Her descriptions of the
campers she encountered reminded me of the four summers I spent as a camp
counselor. Like Mary, I had been a member of the staff who worked with
campers with special needs. It was some of the most gratifying work I’ve
ever done.
After I arrived at the All Saints’ office on that same day, May 10, Tommie
handed me a copy of an essay by another young person in our parish, Harris
Kirkpatrick, reflecting on the gifts of his brother who has Down Syndrome.
Tommie told me that Shannon had wanted to include Harris’ essay in The Cross
and Crown: you will find it below.
In Romans 12:6, St. Paul writes: “We have gifts that differ according to the
grace given to us...” [NRSV] The gifts of persons with special needs are
very real, and are often distinctively life-affirming graces. Thanks to Mary
and Harris for inviting us to celebrate those gifts and graces – and the
wonder-filled people to whom and through whom they are made known in our
lives.
Michael
By Harris Kirkpatrick
Having a brother with Down Syndrome can be difficult at times. To me he is
just the typical brother who gets on your nerves sometimes but you can have
fun with him. Other people who see him do not know that. They just think he
is a kid with Down Syndrome and that’s it. Well they are wrong. He can do
much more than people give him credit. He is smart, funny, and fun to be
around. Sometimes I just want to strangle him, but that’s what brothers are
for.
When he was born, he had to have open-heart surgery. Shortly after his
surgery, he was in a serious condition. If he got sick, even just a little
cold, he could die. Now you cannot even tell. He is very energetic and loves
to have fun. He is always the “life of the party.” He does like to
participate in regular activities like skiing, Tae Kwon Doe, loves to play
air hockey, and like most kids his age he loves to watch TV. He also likes
to watch and play sports. One year he played in a soccer league and he still
likes to play soccer sometimes. He likes to play football, basketball, and
baseball also. He really loves to watch sports. One of his favorite things
to do is go to a Mississippi State football or basketball game. I love
taking him out into our yard and teaching him different things about
football and basketball. He really enjoys learning about it too. At first,
some of my friends felt a little awkward around him but now they understand
him and see him as a normal kid like I do.
He has had to face many challenges growing up. He has been picked on, and he
has had difficulty with many things, but he has always had friends to back
him up and help him out.
This past spring break our family went to Colorado. He went to a special ski
school for mentally or physically challenged skiers or snowboarders and he
skied. By the end of the week, he was skiing by himself with no help. A few
nights ago, he attended an award ceremony at his Tae Kwon Doe School. He
received the award for Student of the Year. By the next ceremony, he will
probably have stepped up an entire rank. Many people do not realize how much
he can do and things like skiing by himself and winning a Tae Kwon Doe award
prove that he can do much more than people think he can do.
In a way, his life is better than most people’s lives. He sees the good in
everything and he knows more people than just about anybody. If you say
something mean to him, he will not comprehend that it is mean. To him
everyday is a happy day. He can bring the fun out of anything. That is what
it is like having a brother with Down Syndrome.
