How many excuses are acceptable? None for my little girl.

  Written by Joyce Penner on Dec 1, 2011 9:38 pm

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She was tiny, beautiful, native, 19 years old and she wanted to make a difference in this world.  She also had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).  Her biological mom drank when she was pregnant and the message she wanted to bring to teens and young moms was “Don’t”.

Don’t drink.  A devastating decision that affects too many innocent children.

She shared bits and pieces of her life.  How hard it was to fit in.  How difficult it was to comprehend things other children took for granted.  She knew how hurtful it felt when she wasn’t invited to birthday parties.  Her family, who understood her disability, was her strength. 

She graduated.  Woke up one morning to the realization she wanted to make a difference in this world.  She knew she needed to get the message out and she hit the public speaking platform with her proud, loving and supportive adoptive mother at her side. 

As she spoke I couldn’t help comparing her to my own beautiful, 9 year old, adopted daughter.  I heard the struggles, how she overcame them, how she rose above the hardships, the tears and the joy as she struggled through the devastation her biological mom had inflicted on her.

A story I could relate to.  One my daughter was living.

It was a story of hope.  One my daughter is also living.

Against all odds this young woman was changing the world with her courage, her strength and her willingness to step out of her comfort zone.

We adults could take some lessons from these “disabled” kids.  Don’t quit, work hard, don’t give up when the going gets tough, seek professional help, keep knocking on doors, try, try and try again.  There is a way, if you never give up.

I can’t instil within you the desire to change your life.  I can’t motivate you to motivate yourself.  All of that is within you.

What I can tell you is if you need an example – come meet my daughter.  Then go home and ask yourself what excuse you are using.  Whatever that excuse is they all pale in comparison to what she’s struggled with and overcome.

She blessed the world when she was born.  And I, right now, at her age, am the major benefactor of that blessing.  Praise God.

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