To everything there is a reason and a season for every purpose.
My husband and I were blessed with two wonderful kids—Kevin and Kyla. We love both of them very much and they have their own endearing ways. Before Kyla was born, Kevin had been the center of our lives. Kevin was not just any ordinary boy.
Kevin has a bionic-but-selective hearing. He can hear the very soft ‘click’ of the remote control from two rooms away. He knew if his Dad is walking by the hallway and if the car came by, even if we are 30 feet away. He likes the simple stuff like leaves, his lobster stuff toy and his little towels. Lately he started to appreciate playing cars and Transformer robots. His favorite is basketball and we discovered he has a skill for swimming. He is happiest when he is out swimming or splashing by the beach.
Kevin is a very sweet and loving boy. When I’m sad or sick, he would sit beside me and bring his face close to mine and smile or touch my forehead. Those were the few moments when our worlds are one and without boundaries.
I have always believed that Kevin was given to us for a reason that is greater than our own understanding. Most of all Kevin taught us valuable insights about life – simple things that we mostly tend to forget or take for granted.
1. The best things in life are free.
We live in a world where material possessions are highly valued upon vs. the traditional values. To be ‘cool’ and be part of the ‘in crowd’ nowadays meant kids with mobile phones, PSP hanging upon their neck (and sadly, pounding on them while inside the Church), having a Twitter account and stashed with an i-Pod. Kevin’s happiness comprise of swimming, riding the bike, strolling around the village with our pet Kimby, playing with his basketball and hanging out by the swing. I am glad he somehow started liking Hotwheels (thus, the avalanche of cars as gifts last Christmas) and some curiosity on Transformers but he will never trade up his favorite face towels and pillow!
2. A time for everything.
We were so used to having a time table for everything. A checklist. A milestone chart. Kevin defied all those chronicles and timetable. At times, we got worried that may be he would not be able to do the simple routine tasks that most children learn at the first 4 years of life—like eating solid food, using their utensils, writing their name. But Kevin did learn them, one small task at a time, in his on time. He learned to eat solid foods when he was 4 years old. He was never fond of anything too sweet and would rather have soups and a good meal of rice and chicken dish. He can finish 8 glasses a day and except for iced-tea and orange juice, Kevin never drank anything that is unhealthy. This is why he is blessed with strong teeth, clear and smooth skin. He learned to dance and sing, stand still for the flag ceremony and fall in line to wait for his turn. Speech is his biggest challenge but slowly but surely, he began learning to speak and express himself. He can now answer basic questions and has started to master writing his name. He did this despite the fact that the road to get there was not easy for him. When Kevin is at the Church, I know that he knew it is time for praying. I am proud of Kevin now being able to sit through the entire mass without distractions. He is now able to appreciate “study time” and “school time.”
But most importantly, he did it. In his own time. I must admit that coming to terms with his own term was not easy and took years to understand. I had to remind myself often, “in Kevin’s time and in His time”.
3. Putting things into perspective.
The biggest lesson that Kevin thought me is being able to put things into a new perspective. Kevin taught me that nothing much on earth can hurt that bad or stress us out like crazy. My LT once asked me, after getting some unsolicited flack from my earliest board reviews, why I don’t seem moved or didn’t go into tearful bouts, my answer was simple, “nothing will be worth a tear than Kevin.” Sure there are not-so-good days but life goes on and compared to the challenges Kevin goes through, who am I to complain? Complaining will be a waste of time. Kevin taught me, let’s just get on with it and move on.
Thank you Kevin, for 10 meaningful years!
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