My friend Mary

Kids have always shocked me. They say things no one expects. They love in such unconditional ways. They are the first to see things us grown ups often overlook.

I have worked at summer camp once a week for the last six summers. At this camp we have 3rd through 12th graders who learn about God, sing, dance, and have a lot of fun. One of the challenges we have is that we have many kids that have Asperger's syndrom (it is on the Autism spectrum). Some people might shy away from these kids. They react to situations differently than how people without Aspergers act. To the outsider, it may be scary to take on kids with some sort of disability.

These kids, though, have taught me so much about what it is to take life as it comes and to be happy with who you are. We had a girl at camp for a few years (I'll call her Mary) who had low functioning Aspergers. The more low functioning a person is means that they function less "normally" than someone who is high functioning. Mary was difficult sometimes to get to do things and to stay on track but she also had a personality that you could not stay away from. We had a talent show one night and she got up on stage without music and just danced. Dancing because it was what she loved to do. How wonderful would that be to do something because you love it and not because you have to or because you will be embarrassed one way or the other? You could also see Mary wear her heart on her sleeve. If she didn't like something, she told you just as strongly as she told you she loved something. She was true to who she was. I admire her for that. We should all try to live more like Mary.

All this is to say, don't step away from someone who has a disability. Talk to them. Be their friend or at least say hi. I have learned so much about who I am and who I want to be through Mary and others like her.