At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100 yard dash.  At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.  All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.

The other eight heard the boy cry.  They slowed down and looked back.  Then they all turned around and went back...every one of them.  One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "That will make it better."  Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood and the cheering went on for several minutes.

People who were there are still telling the story...Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing.  What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves.  What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

When I first read this story I cried.  It is too easy to put a "label" on a person for one reason or another.  I think that sometimes those who struggle the most in this world truly DO understand life better than those who seem to, or pretend to, soar above others. It seems to me that if we were to put a "label" on the contestants mentioned above...it should be "loving" or "compassionate" or "accepting."  How many times have we been told, and even tell others, that what's inside a person's heart is more important than their outer appearance.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and I think the participants at the Special Olympics are beautiful...how about you?      Adelle

Graphic design © Touch A Memory
Used with permission.
image......morguefiles




to contact Adelle