Think about it for a moment: life itself is a burden if you look at it through a lens of pessimism; it is beautiful if you look through one of optimism. It all depends on the person doing the looking.
I see life through both lenses, but the optimistic one dominates. I want to share a message with you. If you have a secret dream, make it real. Trust me on this: if it harms no one, it is right. If there is no true reason not to pursue it and you feel its truth in your heart, then unleash the creative spirit that lives in each of us—with all the vigor you can muster. Afterward, I promise you, you will feel fulfilled in both body and soul.
Now, dear mothers and fathers, I want you to think about something you may have overlooked. You see your child as a punishment sent by God. But have you ever stopped to consider that it might be exactly the opposite? Has your child ever struck anyone without cause? Stolen from anyone? Used drugs? Committed acts of vandalism? Joined a criminal organization? You are already ahead—far ahead.
I would rather endure a thousand small daily struggles than have a son or daughter who is a criminal or addict.
Your child, even if your eyes cannot see it and your culture does not understand it, stands closer to the truth. His or her gifts can actually defeat and overcome many wrongs. More than that: your child may be the spark that ignited a faith community built on the foundation of disability itself. Fede e Luce is one such example. So, dear parents, your children are useful to this world in ways you may not yet comprehend.
Now I should speak from my own experience. My mother is a woman of almost excessive love—so much so that it shaped my growth in complicated ways—but I must say she never shut me out from the world even when she faced ridicule and shame for it. So, dear mothers, you must find the courage within yourselves, knowing that the struggle is always there. This very attitude gave my mother the strength to overcome every obstacle in her path.
I will close with one final message: your child is not a burden on society. He or she is a living apostolate on earth. I beg you: give your child the space to express the fullness of his or her spiritual gifts.
- Marco Colangione, 1990