Monday, August 23, 2010

The consolation prize

Talk to me about the truth of religion and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand.”

C.S. Lewis

I sometimes wonder about the folks we meet from time to time whose only interaction with us is "we'll pray for your son."  They don't know us. The only thing they know about Acorn is that he is amazingly cute, well behaved for a toddler, comes with some extra hardware, and is a messy eater. If they're paying attention (which many of these folks are, staring at us through their whole dinner), they'll note that he doesn't talk, but sometimes makes noises.

Is it an attempt to interact without being rude? A sincere offer of prayers for his health and wellbeing? An attempt to say, "I'm sorry your kid isn't normal" without causing a scene? An attempt at saying that they know we face challenges that they can't help?

Or is it, as a friend of mine was once told by her own family, "we'll pray that your child goes to meet his maker and is released from all this suffering" - that's right, I know a special needs mom who was told that people were praying for her child to die.

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