What's in a name? When we hear names like Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates or the Rockefellers we immediately think of wealth, power and often arrogance. I suppose another elite name for many would be "Kennedy" as in JFK, Edward and the rest of the "royal family."
In our home, there is one Kennedy who stands above the rest ... she is Eunice Kennedy Shriver. I was sad to hear of her passing, but happy that God gave her to us for the time that we had her.
Some of you may not realize that Eunice created the Special Olympics. Her sister, Rosemary, was born with special needs, so she had a heart for others who had physical or mental challenges.
At the very first Special Olympics in 1968, Eunice spoke the words:
"In ancient Rome, the gladiators went into the arena with these words on their lips. 'Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.' . . . Let us begin the Olympics."
These words are now the official oath of the Special Olympics.
Today, more than 3 million athletes participate in Special Olympics events throughout the world, and I am proud to say that my son, Nathan, is one of them! He and his fellow athletes gain so much from participating. Nathan's favorite events are track and field and bowling. When he competes he finds that he IS able to do something that others might not think him capable of doing. When I watch him compete, my heart swells. Seeing my son, who is labeled and often called "retarded", "slow" and "dumb" , shine with pride when he crosses that finish line is the best feeling in the world. Thank you, Eunice, for giving that joy to me. You are a true hero in our home. God Bless You!
Until Tomorrow,
Kathy
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment