Cloudy sky, rainy mountain roads, a dog, close friends and family, cool and breezy weather… If asked “What is your perfect day?” These descriptions would have made the list. Give me a good cup of coffee and I believe I would transport to another dimension of bliss.
Our journey through Rocky Mountain National Park was sublime in every way. And what better way is there to practice with a new camera? I’m thankful for this place and this journey and these people.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and if you know me, you know why I care about this month.
Because if you know me, you know Amanda.
Over the next few weeks, I will share stories, encouragements, and exhortations fueled by my love and care for those with Down Syndrome. Before I start that, though, I want to give you the why.
My sister, Amanda, is three years younger than me, and she has Down Syndrome. Through my forthcoming posts, I’ll weave her in often because any knowledge, passion, or experience I have related to Down Syndrome is entirely because of her existence.
Today, I just want to tell you about her, primarily because she’s awesome. If you ever get the chance, you should be her friend.
First, Amanda has the best laugh in the world. She will start with a higher pitched giggle if she thinks you’re amusing. But then, if the circumstances are extra funny, her laugh will evolve into an uncontrollable cackle. Her whole body is involved when you really get her going, and it is a joy to watch her laugh.
She also enjoys the most simple things in life. Coloring books, writing stories in journals, reading fiction, watching movies (especially ones with superheroes), music, Starbucks, pizza, cheeseburgers, and ice cream. She isn’t difficult to please, and when you do any of these things with her, she won’t forget it.
Amanda loves people. I mean really loves them. If you are nice or take an interest in her, she will be a most loyal friend. Every time I talk to her, she asks how my friends are doing, and eventually they become her friends too. Do you need a friend who will always be excited to see you? Amanda is your girl.
She is the most consistently encouraging person that I know. Every time I take a trip, post an article, or share anything on social media, Amanda is there to tell me that she likes the picture, my trip looked so cool, or that I did great writing an article. She will tell you how cute your baby is, how beautiful she thinks you are, and how everything you do is awesome! Boundless and consistent encouragement – no one I know is better at it!
I could spend all day telling you all the reasons she’s wonderful, so I’ll cut myself off for now.
The most important thing you need to know about Amanda, though, is this:
She is a child of God, a daughter of the Most High, created in His image.
She is a person, and that makes her worthy of love.
This is what her name means, and this is who she is.
Amanda is worthy of love.
Below zero sits a heart
Beating
Lungs breathing
A corpse
Living
Sun nor rain
Can wake the slumber
Tears conceived in loss
Born in pain
Hot they strike
Lukewarm they stagger
Then cold
Only to become
An emblem worn
On the chest
Heavy but valiant
Courage to stand and speak truth
To power that has the power to speak lies
Lies within a heart of love for neighbor over self
All those who speak have God’s image
And God with the most power
Speaks truth to those he calls his neighbors
To those he died for
So we speak like a man with a dream
Not one that passes when we
Rub the sleep out of our eyes
But one eternal dream
A never-fading, always real dream
That all men are created equal
Not by man’s spoken word
But by God’s*
This day sings a freedom song
Muted by ears not hearing
Let us see and hear
The forgotten song
Broken are the chains
Though hearts still remain
Unbroken, unable to love,
Unwilling to sing
Closer now we stand to abolition
Of division and opression
If we sing with amplification
“God heal us!”
*This poem includes additional stanzas added for Juneteenth. It was originally published for MLK Day, 2020 at For The Church. You can read the original here.
In the moment before rain writes
its story on the pavement —
Tension, tight with yearning in the
air
Like a friend with a secret to
share.
A breeze, a breath,
Colder than before, yet somehow warm.
And then — release.
Tears of truth wet the ground
beneath.
X marks the spot
Where we stand
Apart.
Our hearts drowned with grief
Yearning for buried treasure,
For arms crisscrossed around bodies,
Not to suffocate
But to grant a sigh of relief.
We long to feel it
But for now we stand.
Catch your breath
on the wind –
let heaven fill
your lungs with hope –
not fear.
And form your lips
to the shape of praise –
broken and bleeding,
torn by the air
but still singing.
All those who knew You
Didn’t know You
Would die and rise
You who knew
All their thoughts
They still forgot
And I with them
But You remember
And You died still
And You rose still
For us
Tap the reservoir for a drip
Only enough to fill my eyes
Rather,
Relentless rapids
I either suffocate or
Surrender
Allyson Howell 