Living vs. breathing

Kyle has two sayings that he starts many sentences with- "when I get older I'll.....or I wish we could......
What follows these two sentences can be the mundane such as cross the street. As Kyle's brother and sister continue to gain independence and roam through our neighborhood they have been allowed to cross the street and that is a big deal, so as we sat outside yesterday, Kyle told me when he got older he would cross the street.

Then there are the times when Kyle shares his hopes and dreams. A few weeks ago we watched Soul Surfer afterwards Kyle exclaimed I wish I could surf.

We hear these kind of comments on a daily basis, and on the surface these can seem heart breaking, discouraging, and depressing.

But is it really? When one speaks of hope, and the possibilities for the future is this really discouraging?

Yes some of Kyle's hopes and dreams are going to be difficult and we don't plan on surfing anytime soon, but Kyle doesn't believe he can't surf. He saw a girl with one arm surf so why can't he?

One day recently he told me he wanted to sky dive much to the chagrin of both his mom and grandmother.

John 10:10 "I have come to give you life and life to the fullest." -Jesus

There is a huge difference between breathing and living. This isn't just in the context of adventure and skydiving but in the way we view all aspects of life.

It is very easy to become scared of death with having a child with DMD. It is very easy to become protecting of existing, but is that living?

Kyle wants to live, and it may not be extremely complex but he has the inate desire to experience life.

The positive side of having a child with a life ending disease, is we can take adventage of each day. We can't and shouldn't wait.

Psalm 118:24- This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We chose to be glad and thankful for this sacred and special day today. We may not go surfing or sky diving, but we will enjoy the life God has given to Kyle.