I took this picture of Pete yesterday. He found this yellow bungy cord lying around. He put it around his waist and said to me, "Mom, look at my belt."
Hey, it works for him. He wore it to school yesterday. He calls it his "bungy belt." One of his teachers asked him why he had a bungy cord around his waist. He told her it was his new invention. Actually it works great for Pete and his abilities with small mechanisms like a belt latch/buckle. Will it catch on? I don't know. Pete's happy with his invention!
Monday Pete started using a walker because he injured his left leg a bit. I told him it was no big deal to use one. No one would care.
Not only has he not been self-conscious about the walker whatsoever, he embraces it. Yesterday he grabbed it as he walked out the door to the car before school and said, "Look at me. I'm an old lady." And he laughs.
Please don't be offended if you are an "old lady" who uses a walker. It was just a way that Pete laughs at himself so easily -- something we all should strive to do because it makes life joyful and somehow just better. When we can easily laugh at ourselves (not at others ...there is a distinct difference) in good humor (not in condemnation) we grasp the deeper things of life in gratitude....I know that sounds totally what it wouldn't do but it does. When we can view ourselves with humor, be gentle with ourselves but laughing at our humanness we can embrace others in love and see what matters in life.
Oh, I don't know if I am explaining myself well at all. It might sound like a jumble of confusion! Learning to not take ourselves seriously is a great thing to learn. We then can take what we need to take seriously -- matters of God and faith and Believing no matter what and loving others with all we got. Seeing ourselves with humor allows us to get past ourselves and onto loving God and others. Plus, taking ourselves too seriously is exhausting.
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;" Romans 12:10a
"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:10