Be a fierce includer

Over-stimulation deluxe. Like in the very best way—the museum was FILLED with kids of all ages on field trips living their best lives. It was a total blast. The Perot museum was top-knotch, filled with state of the art mineral exhibits, space exploration, a totally interactive children’s museum, and even a sports hall where you could virtually race against the best athletes in the world. Incredible.

You know—I’ve never thought much about whether places are handicap accessible or friendly towards different disabilities (don’t love that word because I’ve discovered that the lack of an expected ability simply creates a supernatural ability in another realm) until I was forced to honestly. But this place nurtured kids of all kinds, backgrounds, interests, hobbies, and physical statures—it represented the heart of adventure, which every child can partake in + enjoy.

As I chased Sledge in his walker and he knocked some paint off the walls (joke—sorta 🤣), we were frequent visitors on the elevator because, ya know, BUTTONS. All the rage these days.
Anyway, I was grabbing his water bottle out of my bag + turned to see this. And this was one of MANY moments when kids went OUT OF THEIR WAY to embrace Sledge + say hello.
The exhibits were phenomenal but this? This was the real magic.

After this, the little boy bent down and said, “your walker is so cool. I like the blue.”
Sledge just stood there, holding his hand for 2-3 minutes and I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the simplest gesture of—“I see you.”

I’m 34 years old and I STILL have a fear of being excluded. Being totally honest here. I’m getting better, as I learn that my worth is never tied to someone’s recognition of it.
And you know what Sledge has taught me as he enters situations? To go bravely forward and when you feel alone? Start your own courage club + invite others into it.
BE A FIERCE INCLUDER.

And parents—our kids imitate what they see in us. Do our actions + language exclude anyone that Jesus loves? May we set the example.

Often times, it simply takes extending our hand.
It’s not weird.
The ONLY commonality we need is that the same hand made us all 🤍