De-tailed but not Limited

We have a kitten without a tail. She went out into the wilds with her mother, brother, and sister and returned a few days later tail-less. We don’t know if a wild dog took it, or a raccoon, or a buzzard, or if she simply got it stuck in something. It is rather odd looking and somewhat pitiful, striking a chord of sympathy as we look at her and feel for her in her plight and her handicap. She is not normal and therefore cannot live the normal life of a cat that God intended for her. She is doomed to live in abject misery, never being capable of enjoying a full carefree existence that is normally expected of a cat. This pathetic creature has little to no value and cannot fulfill its purpose or ever have any degree of happiness.

But wait, is this really true? Yesterday as I watched our kittens I noticed that playful spirit that often accompanies beings as they grow up and discover different abilities. Each kitten had found the ability to jump, to twist, to catch insects, and to toss objects in the air. All three had found a Kleenex and enjoyed throwing it in the air and catching it only to have it tear in two pieces which they delighted in adding to the fun. Each kitten could jump onto a chair, spring onto a window ledge and capture an insect crawling on the window and each kitten could run fast, hide in the grass, only to surprise another cat happening by.

Our little kitten without a tail was happy. She was not limited in any way and she seemed to enjoy the same carefree existence as her brother and her sister. Her running and jumping style were different, not worse, just different. She appeared to be slightly awkward at times and had made several adjustments to accommodate her differences but those accommodations were not limiting but instead were simply unique to her.

She is not handicapped by her handicap but instead seems unaware of the problem. She has adjusted positively and is able to do all the things cats can do and is not hampered by her missing tail.

I have not met a perfect person in my life. All of us feel as though there is something about us that is missing or wrong or imperfect. We can wake up each day and focus on our weaknesses, our problems, our challenges, and our limits. Or we can view ourselves as capable, valuable human beings with something positive to offer the world. Don’t allow your limits to limit you. Joel’s autism is a handicap for many things but he does not see himself as handicapped. He is happy and enjoys a productive and energetic existence.

Joel does not wake up and think to himself “I am autistic and therefore incapable of many things.” He wakes up each day with joy in his heart (once he is dressed and fed!) and is not thwarted by his challenges but rather uses his many special gifts to make the world a better place.