lunch with Danny

If you know me at all you know that there is only one boy who currently possesses the key to my heart.

He is super cute, has big blue eyes and is VERY smart. He is also five, obsessed with sea creatures and plays ninja's on the playground at school. The only boy who has ownership of my heart is my nephew, Danny. I love him to the moon and back.

Today, I had lunch with a different Danny.

In the dining room at the shelter our meals are all served by volunteers. They come to us from a host of places. Some are court ordered, some serve with their church, some are involved in work programs. We also have a group that comes to serve lunch a few days a week from a local adult education program for adults with special needs.

Today, I sat down in my usual spot and it just happened to be where all of the volunteers from this program were eating. I have a very special place in my heart for those affected by disability and I quickly struck up a conversation with the four of them.

There was a young man with Autism named Alex who was very chatty. He told me about his love of bread, Disney movies and that I should definitely be aware that he is the "cool guy" of the group.

Across from him was Joan, an older lady who had been informing me, since before we made it to the table, that she definitely was in need of a hair cut and she that planned to remedy that situation tomorrow.

Next the her, and across from me, was an older gentleman, if he told me his name I can't remember it. He informed me that Alex was in fact "the cool guy" then Joan was "the smart one" but he was "the good looking one."

Directly next to me, was Danny. Danny has downs syndrome. He ate quietly as the other's chattered but he perked up as we started talking about Disney movies. He has a taste for classic Disney films and was excited to sing to me "Oodilally ooodilally" from Robin Hood.

Not far into our lunch, I excused myself for a moment, walked across the lunch room and went to a young mom who is always one of the last families left in the room.

This happens because her one year old daughter also has down syndrome and she is still learning how to eat. It takes her a long time.

I sat down beside this young woman for a moment. We have been talking about her little girl for a few days now. She is so afraid for her. She has never been around people with disability and doesn't fully understand what her daughters future holds. As I sat there, I quietly said to her,
"When you went through the line today, did you notice Danny?"

She hadn't so I told her about him and what he was doing there. After that I went back to finish my lunch and my lively conversation with my new friends. There was a lot of Disney singing, which if you know me well you know is right up my alley.

As everyone else finished their lunch and began to clean up and head back to their stations, Danny was still finishing his lunch. I began to bustle around doing other things and then I looked over and saw my client walk over and sit down next to him. She talked to him for a few minutes and when she stood up and turned towards me she had tears streaming down her face.

At that point I went to her with her own little girl in my arms. She came to me and said,

"Linda, he doesn't know."

"Perhaps, he doesn't," I replied. "But he knows that he likes Doritos, Robin Hood and Toy Story 2. He knows how to serve the deserts and smile at everyone who comes through the line. He knows how to give hugs and talk to his friends. He knows so many things."

After this as we left the dining room and the tears still streamed down her face I told he something he had told me. You see, all the people at the table with me had told me which "one" they were. I met "the cool guy" "the smart one" and the "handsome one." During that conversation I had asked Danny,

"So, which one are you, the nice one?"

He looked at me with his precious smile and said very softly,

"I'm the awesome one."

As I reached again to take this tiny little girl in my arms while her mother cried crocodile tears, I told her what he had said. Then I reminded her how true it was, not only of Danny but of her little girl as well. She is the awesome one. She is so valued. She is so precious, smart, loving and so much more.

She is awesome.

I am so grateful for a God who doesn't make mistakes. For a God who creates us all, exactly as we are, for a plan and a purpose.

I am grateful for people like Danny, my sweet little baby girl and host of other "special" friends I have gotten to make over the years. I am humbled to get to love them.

Praising God that no matter who we are, we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.