If Children... 

If children live with criticism, They learn to condemn.
If children live `with hostility, They learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, They learn to be shy.
If children live with shame,  They learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement,  They learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance,  They learn to be patient.
If children live with praise,  They learn to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance,  They learn to love.
If children live with approval, They learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty, They learn truthfulness.
If children live with security,  They learn to have faith in themselves and others. 
If children live with friendliness,  They learn the world is a nice place  in which to live.

~ Author Unknown ~

The beautiful picture below will lead you to a wonderful website entitled: "The Hugs and Hope Club". Their mission is to send a smile in the form of a card to a sick child. Please visit this website and do your part for a child who could use a smile.

 

SPECIAL YOU!

You can't be all things to all people. 
You can't do all things at once. 
You can't do all things equally well. 
You can't do all things better than everyone else. 
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's. 
 
So: 
You have to find out who you are, and be that. 
You have to decide what comes first, and do that. 
You have to discover your strengths, and use them. 
You have to learn not to compete with others, 
Because no one else is in the contest of *being you*. 


Then: 
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness. 
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions. 
You will have learned to live with your limitations. 
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due. 
And you'll be a most vital mortal. 
 
Dare To Believe: 
That you are a wonderful, unique person. 
That you are a once-in-all-history event. 
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are. 
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish. 
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down. 

Author Unknown

 

 

TO MY CHILD:

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story  about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day.............

~ Author Unknown ~

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A dear friend of mine sent this in email. She didn't know who it came from but wanted to share. If you know the author, please let me know. I would love to give that person credit.

I am the child who cannot talk.

You often pity me. I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of...I see that as well. I am aware of much...whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself nor my needs as you do. You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world around me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards...great strides in development that you can credit yourself. I do not give you understanding as you know it. 

What I give you is so much more valuable...I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions, creating questions with no answers.

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I am the child who cannot walk.

The world sometimes seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the top shelf. I need to go to the bathroom ... oh...I've dropped my spoon again. I am dependent on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent. I give you awareness.

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I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick. What I do know is infinite joy in the simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strife and conflicts of a more complicated life.

My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity.


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I am the disabled child.

I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I give to you my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you of respect for others and their uniqueness. I teach you about the sanctity of life. I teach you about how very precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all, I teach you hope and faith.

Animal Rights....

I defend animal rights and I am totally against animal cruelty. It is my belief that if someone cannot treat an animal with respect and kindness, it is just a small step from there to abusing children, women. and the elderly. If we can stop animal abuse, we can stop child abuse. We must fight to stop abuse to every living thing!

This little bear is called Sir Care Alot! He is a bear that is given to children during a sad  incident to give them something to hang on to. Whether it be an accident, the loss of a loved one, or as a result of child abuse. Click on the bear to find out  how you can help. 

 

 

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If you have a Child or Abuse quilt on your website, please feel free to add any of these  to your quilt. Hit my home button to get the URL to link them:

     

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If you would like to adopt this background, please link it back to my homepage. 

Unless otherwise noted, Copyrights (c) are retained by S & B Crafts on all existing art, images and graphics located in this site.  All Rights Reserved.

This site originated on December 30, 1999