I have been meaning to quote from a letter I received last week from Peyton Goddard and another from her mother, Dianne Goddard. Peyton and Dianne Goddard wrote a book, I am intelligent, which I posted a couple of weeks ago, since then I am honored to be in communication with both of them. Click ‘here‘ to read that post again. I asked them for permission to quote from their letters here. They have agreed.
This is part of an email Peyton wrote me, responding to the post I wrote about her book and labels.
“Pleasured I am pointed to hearing your understanding that lasted, large, limiting, linear labels are hulking jungles greeted by limitations. Keeping one limited is to measure there wastes of their great gifts. One’s tears taste lime. Understares, terror builds. One washes their tears by return try freed to their Creator, as rest there they hunger. Polling my limits I kettled boiling red, as heard I’m trapped. There I wasted my lived times in pity. Limiting labels murder poignancy of sweet journey. I watered my liking to keep open living by questing for others better lives poignantly sweetened by encouraging swiping labels away. Wastes caging pertinent persons must stop. A trepid heart needs verses assuring “I’m deared by this very looking world. I can be me. My heart need caw no longer.” There joy is heard. These awesome pertinent persons can be freed to limitless. It greeted I hurrah…”
And this is part of an email from Peyton’s mother, Dianne –
“I spent much of Peyton’s first twenty years deliberating and comparing the severity of differences in persons labeled with disabilities that I met or read about. In the early years, this private, internal discussion between me, myself and I, offered some relief to my worries over Peyton’s delays and differences, as her challenges did not seem insurmountable if I therapied her enough. And professionals agreed. In the days before Internet could bring me many children to compare her levels of functionings and measured progress to, I found I could usually comfort my fearful self with observations that the few children we met with disabilities seemed to have much greater challenges than hers. A case in point was (removed the name for privacy’s sake) who was several years younger than Peyton. When talkative W. was three and not walking, he was tested. Duchene’s muscular dystrophy was diagnosed. Debilitating muscles until death in his early twenties was the best case scenario. Pity him I did. And compare I did. While Peyton would be continuing to improve, he would be suffering a slow and sure death.
Not so. Peyton lost functioning and filled with a suffocating sadness she could not begin to shake for well over a decade. Yet W. lived happy. At his celebration of life five years ago I reflected on my foolish attempts to comfort myself by comparing the severity of challenges, and how thankful I am for new understandings of acceptance and valuing Peyton for ALL she is. Above all, I am comforted knowing she can really feel my love finally.”
The Icare4Autism Conference begins tomorrow. More on that later. To end, a few more photographs from our adventures in Jerusalem.
The Dome of the Rock
Fragment of an Ancient Column in the Courtyard of The Dome of the Rock
Old Tombs in Valley of Jehoshaphat
Outside Zion’s Gate in the Old City
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The poignant poetic words of Peyton coupled with the photos of Old Jerusalem, several thousand years old, and the Dome of the Rock, 1400 years old, made me wonder: what have we learned about each other? About our shared hopes and fears? About understanding where each of us is coming from?
Thousands of years have elapsed, and still this ancient city, Jerusalem, and this brave young woman, Peyton, are the centers of misunderstanding and strife. Jerusalem symbolizes not only the binding of Isaac, but also the ascendance of Muhammad into the heavenly realm. Just so Peyton, who has been bound all these years, is only now beginning to glimpse the heavenly realm that should be hers to share with all of us who yearn for a peaceful paradise here on earth.
Heaven doesn’t exist way up there in the wild blue yonder, but right here on earth, and hell isn’t down in the fiery depths, but also right here on earth, and we humans are responsible for which one prevails.
With tears and love,
Mom/Granma/Paula
What a beautiful comment Mom! Yes, yes and yes! Miss you and Nicky so much.
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Can I steal this quote and use it on a tattoo? 😉 Love it!
Ariane, so glad you’re having such an amazing time. Can’t wait to hear more about the conference!
I meant the heaven and hell quote, it wouldn’t let me copy/paste!
hi Angie,
Yes! So glad to hear from you.
When it comes from the heart you can certainly wear it on your sleeve, or in this case as as a tatoo! Our thoughts are to be shared.
Oh Mom, I answered for you without thinking! So glad you don’t mind. It is such a beautiful comment! XXXX
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Started Peyton’s book last night! WOW! What an inspiration!
Hi Becky!! This makes me so happy! 😀 Would it be alright with you if I emailed Peyton and told her? I think it would make her happy to know a mom with a nonverbal child was reading her words and finding them helpful.
Oh gosh YES!!! It brings tears to my eyes to just think that she would somehow even know I existed! I am almost done with the book and my daughter has been VERY patient with me utilizing her kindle pretty much every waking hour in the last 2 days! I can not put it down!!! It has lead to such an awakening in me! I have so much respect and adoration for Peyton and her family! Her description of her parents reminds me so much of the dynamics of my husband and myself. Him the carefree…..let’s just have fun trying personality and me the one who is in constant thought and worry! 🙂 Peyton’s courage and strength has no doubt instilled in me such hope and excitement for my Brett’s future! I am here for him no matter what it brings but I know now that he will exceed even my greatest of expectations!! It is like a fog has been lifted from me….I see things so much clearer now. I can’t thank them enough for their willingness to see this book through to completion to help the parents and most of all the children who will be forever changed by it. I know that helping the kids is so so important to Peyton! She can know that Brett has been helped! His mom is so very thankful to Peyton! God bless Peyton and her family! B~
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