The Bible says that God has kept some secrets from the “learned and wise” and given them to the “little ones.” This seems to be the case with Andrew. His life is a testimony to the value of humility.

Of course, Andrew is far from perfect. He can be stubborn and frustrating. He can lose his glasses, run off on his own, flush things down the toilet (five weeks in a row), or extend the sign of peace a little longer than the rest of the congregation at Mass. But he is tangible proof that every person has a unique value, not because of what he does but because of who he is.

One of the gifts he has brought us is a greater sense of gratitude and thankfulness. Even the smallest accomplishment gives us reason to rejoice, because each milestone is so hard won. What may take a healthy child two days to accomplish might take Andrew two years. His accomplishments cause me to earnestly pray, “Thank you God.”

When Andrew was a baby, people often told me that God picked us to be his parents because we were special. That was comforting to us at the time. But now, I truly feel that God gave us Andrew precisely because we needed him more than he needed us. It is true that God does not always give you what you ask for, but what you need. We have grown in our love of life and our understanding of God’s love for humanity, especially the least among us.

A handicapped child can be an extraordinary blessing to a family if we see him as a gift. Yes, he comes with challenges, but the blessings have outweighed them one hundred to one. Andrew has helped draw us closer to God. In addition, I believe our celebration of Andrew’s life has been a witness to others, a witness that says that every life is valuable and that God has a purpose for each of our lives.

It is a sad situation when the world places value on someone based only on their physical ability, some even resorting to the horror of abortion to avoid what they perceive to be a cross. Andrew and many like him who have Down Syndrome are rich blessings and, if embraced, can transform the very family which has been entrusted with his care. Truly, life in all forms is precious.

Story offered by Teresa Santoleri