Charles de Gaulle had a hard life. He was a POW in World War I. He had to flee France in order to save it in World War II. He endured protests and assassination attempts. He also had a daughter named Anne, who was born with Down syndrome. In 1928, when she was born, this was not something people knew how to deal with—disabled children were often sent away to institutions. Parents were made to feel ashamed, as if they were responsible for having, in the language of the day, a “retarded” child.
But not de Gaulle and his wife, Yvonne. They embraced their daughter. They built their lives around the challenging but rewarding experience of raising her. “Her birth was a trial for my wife and myself,” he said. “But believe me, Anne is my joy and my strength. She is the grace of God in my life. . . . She has kept me in the security of obedience to the sovereign will of God.”
Each of our children is different. Each comes with their own limitations, challenges, and personality. Whether they are seriously handicapped, have a minor learning disability, or bring into our lives this or that, it doesn’t matter. We have been graced. They are a blessing, an opportunity for us to change and grow; they give us joy and something to throw ourselves into.