In My Child's Eyes

This morning, I went to a "Breakfast for Moms" sponsored by the Utah County Chapter of the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation. As part of the program, the popular song "In My Daughter's Eyes" was sung with the words slightly altered. It made me cry. I'd never applied the song to myself before (seeing as I have little sons.) Because this was a gathering of mothers of children with special needs, it was William I thought of throughout the song. I thought I'd share what I remember of it in honor of Mother's Day:

In my child's eyes I am a hero I am strong and wise and I know no fear But the truth is plain to see He was sent to rescue me I see who I want to be In my child's eyes In my child's eyes everyone is equal Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace. This miracle God gave to me Gives me strength when I am weak. I find reason to believe In my child's eyes And when he wraps his arms around my neck Oh it puts a smile in my heart Everything becomes a little clearer I realize what life is all about It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough It's giving more when you feel like giving up I've seen the light In my child's eyes In my child's eyes I can see the future A reflection of who I want to be Though he'll grow and someday leave, Live with other family, When I'm gone I hope you see how happy he made me For I'll be there In my child's eyes.

When William was born, there was some confusion as to whether he really had Down syndrome. His blood was sent for testing, but in the meantime at the hospital our pediatrician suggested there was no reason we shouldn't hope for the best. When I took William in for his first well-baby checkup, though, Dr. Clayton tried to prepare me for the real chance of a positive diagnosis (I guess I looked a little too hopeful). He left me alone with my tears for a few minutes after that, and I remember looking into William's eyes in worry and grief. He looked back straight into my heart and somehow communicated with me, spirit to spirit, that everything was going to be o.k. I really did see the light, the future and a reason to believe . . . in my William's eyes.