I don't know why people think I am such a great person. I mean, they look at me, and they see what all I have experienced or done in my life; and it's like, "Oh, WOW!! She's surely something *SPECIAL*!"
I am just a kid. I only want to be treated normally, but, unfortunately, this isn't always the case.
I mean, look at the experiences I have had: I was born very premature (at birth I weighed just 1 pound and 3 ounces; I am a twin, and I was the smaller of the two), and I wasn't expected to survive; yet, by the grace of God, I somehow did. I also have a lot of health problems, and I have been in and out of the hospital because I have had breathing problems that threatened my life, and I also have had surgery more than once for different things; and I also had "flares", which is where my arthritis acts up and causes intense pain. I can get very sick when I have one of these "flares". I also had peritonitis (busted appendix) when I was six and nearly died from that; and at age 8, on my birthday, I had a stroke. And, to top it all off, I am on crutches and wear leg braces because I have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which was diagnosed when I was five (although I started having the first symptoms at the age of 4 1/2).
Not many people can say they have had experiences like THESE. Let alone, SURVIVE. I wasn't expected to pull through, but somehow, I did. (And people have called me a "living little miracle.")
And I am GLAD I did. If I didn't I wouldn't be here today, writing this.
And I wouldn't have been able to enjoy life.
But despite all of the health problems I have suffered, I have a very good life. I have a family who loves me for who I am, and they are very supportive of me; and I have a lot of friends; and I do very well in school. I have also been persuing my dream, which is to become a famous country singer; and I have been fortunate to have performed at many places, and I have been fortunate to have met many of my favorite stars in both country and Cajun music. I have also sung at the Grand Ole Opry, and I have met a lot of wonderful people as a result of my being a singer.
I also have the love of my Saviour, Jesus Christ; and I am going to go to Heaven because I accepted Him into my life. He has blessed me so much, in a lot of ways, and I owe my life to Him. He was the One who gave me my talents and abilities; and I am glad I am able to bless others with my gifts. I have brought other people to Jesus, including my own family, and that REALLY makes me feel good!!
I only want to be treated as normally as possible. I want people to FORGET that I am on crutches; my crutches and my leg braces AREN'T what makes me *ME*; I am a PERSON FIRST, and my disabilities are SECOND. Yeah, I know it is hard NOT to see my crutches--for one thing, they are BRIGHT PINK!!--, and I know that my leg braces sometimes squeak and drive people insane, but I want people just to forget that fact, and treat me like a normal kid, even though I know I am NOT normal. And another thing: DON'T assume. I DON'T like people talking for me or putting words into my mouth before I say them; chances are, they are going to wind up saying the wrong thing, and they are going to look like an idiot!! And--DON'T treat me like I am younger. I am nine, nine-and-a-half years old, but I am small; and people sometimes treat me like I am a little kid or tell me I am in the wrong grade (and yes, that has happened before, more than once; it is SO EMBARRASSING!!).
And still one more thing: DON'T help me UNLESS I ASK for it. There is NOTHING that bugs me more than people trying to help me when I DON'T need it. I get SO ANNOYED; I may be handicapped, and I may use crutches--or, at times, a wheelchair--, but I AM NOT HELPLESS!!! I can do things for myself, thank you!!!!
Just give me a chance, is all I ask, and if I need help, I WILL ask, but NOT UNTIL THEN.
And still, one more thing: WHY complain about problems you can't control in your life? WHY feel sorry for yourself about something you can't help? This is why I have such a good outlook in life, and besides, I know there are people who have it TONS worse than I EVER will, and I should count my blessings; which is exactly what I do. I try to make the best out of a bad situation, and I think I am a much better person because of this.
Thank you for listening to me. I had to get this out so you know.
--Written by Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux, aged 9 1/2 years; August 2002.
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Author's Note: This is basically a rehash of the first story I did here at AuthorsDen, but this time I told the story through RONEE' 's eyes, as SHE experienced things. I was thinking about updating this story, and this is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing this. (This story idea hit me last night, as I was winding down for the day.)
Children love to sink their teeth into sweet and delicious fruit. This story and teaching will have them sinking their hearts into the Fruit of the Spirit.
