We are here to Learn

I truly believe that we are here on this Earth to learn. I feel that we should take every opportunity to become knowledgeable. When I speak of learning, I don't mean in an educational way, not everyone learns through education as in schools. I have learned a lot in my life, not only from education but through my children and how they see the world.

When Chad was little I had many dreams for him, he was able to be anything in my eyes, as I think every parent feels this way. But after he became sick my pride turned to worry. As I observed my son I soon realized that he had greater difficulty than others and that his future was not as certain as I once imagined.
I am sure everyone has heard that "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" this has been told to me more than once. Mostly by people who didn't have to go through what I have had to. But never the less, I had to figure out why I was given this task. "Why Me!" was a question that I had in the early years of Chad's life. It wasn't until I stopped questioning and started listening that I understood the reasons for my struggles.
I believe that I was given three gifts, my first born Chad, my second born Hope, and my third child Jordan. I was given these children to learn from them.

Chad was my first, which taught me that life isn't always what it seems, children can become disabled, and showed me how to be a strong advocate and mother. Hope my daughter,who died shortly after birth, taught me that life is precious, love is unconditional and disabilities come in all sizes. Jordan my last child, has taught me that life does go on, that you will learn to laugh again, smile and that broken hearts can be mended. Jordan also showed me that Chad had greater difficulties than I realized.

I believe that things happen for a reason, even if the reason isn't known at the time, one day we come to understand and accept. Once we accept what we have seen as tragedies, can we begin to learn from those experiences, and begin to teach others what we have learned.
I believe we are here to learn, take every opportunity to listen, observe, and teach, only then you can say that you have lived.