What They Saw and What I Saw
We went to a Fair last weekend and Ashlynn chose this shirt to wear. Ashlynn chooses her shirts with intention. It never used to be that way, but I started noticing a couple years back and would ask her, did you choose that shirt for a reason and she always says yes.
At the fair, her favorite part is always the live stage where people may or may not be dancing. I left her with some acquaintances briefly while I grabbed a drink. When I came back, everyone around her was getting down and having the time of their life.
When the music ended, an older woman who was clearly having fun came up to me and asked me Ashlynn was my daughter. When I affirmed it so she smiled and said she is absolutely wonderful. I thanked her politely before she asked “How old is she?”
When I replied she was 16, the smile on her face turned into genuine confusion. “Oh,” she said, “she seems so much younger.”
As we were leaving I was walking behind Ashlynn and smiled as I saw the shirt she wore. A quote from Eunice Kennedy Shriver at the 1987 Special Olympics World Games opening ceremonies and I thought to myself how true those words really are. That woman may not have understood the significance of Ashlynn shining light so bright it had everyone around her releasing their childlike inhibitions, but I did.
**writing on shirt – “You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence, you send a message to every village, every city, every nation. A message of hope. A message of victory.
