The fight.

** Jan 14, 2011 Update** Though the seller is still there, the card was taken down! The site posted this article today. :) Small steps. :) Please continue to pray for this seller, that he finds Jesus....

** Update ** If you would like to take a small part in this fight with me, I'm adding a button on the sidebar of this blog- a petition to get the site to take down this card. Thanks for your time. :) And thanks for standing up for Micah and Abby with me. {Taken down when card was removed from site}


Being the parent of a kid (or kids) with special needs has its challenges... in so many more ways than one.

There are countless things... comments, popular phrases, stereotypes... that are so offensive to me because they're offensive to my children. Ands really really.... REALLY hard to know when to fight a battle and when to give it up.

The mom in me wants to never give up. Fight until its finished. Change the world. Tell people that the "R" word is offensive. Correct people that Abby "has" Down Syndrome; not Abby "is" Down Syndrome. And ya know, those fights are a continuing battle. But every now and then one comes up that you either fight for, or you leave it alone.

Recently a friend shared, on Facebook, a product. A handmade item for sale on the internet that she was appalled to see, as was I. A greeting card that says "Congratulations, your kid has Down Syndrome". And on that card is an image of a young man with Down Syndrome and a word bubble that says "I can count to potato". Breaks. My. Heart. What kind of a sick...... I need to stop there.

So I contacted this seller as well as the site that they are selling through. My email kindly asked him/her to take this card down because it was offensive to me, having two children with Down Syndrome, and in this country, that is considered hate speech. And I thanked them kindly for the hasty removal of this item.

The site has not responded yet but the seller has. I was told that it is not hate speech, that "it's celebratory. Someone could have given you one of these cards, twice!" He went on to say that, "you might think it's in bad taste, but taste isn't regulated here. I will be leaving the cards up." ....Defeat.

So now, do I fight back? Do I keep this battle going no matter how far I have to go to take this thing down? Or do I pass this... lovely person... off as someone who just doesn't get it? The mom in me wants to fight. Hard. But the realist in me knows that taking this card down won't change this person's heart. I've seen too many of the other products on their list, this person is so lost. Every "greeting" card they sell is offensive to someone, in some way. And isn't the heart what really matters? I'm not really concerned that anyone will actually purchase and deliver this card to a new mom in the hospital. I'm angry because even exists. I'm mad that there are people out there who browse this site and think thats funny. But to me, it hurts. So is taking it down going to change anything? Is this seller going to think any more highly of the Down Syndrome community if this card is no longer sold? And the real question: Is raising an uproar going to lead them to Jesus?

I'm not trying to insinuate that I have the answers to these questions. I'm just sharing my hurt with fellow believers.

God, give me wisdom. Show me how You would have me handle this situation. Spirit reveal Yourself to this person that they may come to know You and Your grace and mercy. Change their heart towards your special kids as really only you can. And God I pray that no one in their right mind would buy this card and give it to someone who has a baby born with Down Syndrome (!) but only pass it by in disgust. I pray for the hearts of those who would buy any of these cards, that they too would find You God.

And Lord, divinely direct the passion in my own heart that I would speak and move with purpose and effectiveness. Amen.