Tag Archives: Special Olympics

One of the biggest blessings in my life has been motherhood.  I feel so grateful to have my son. Learning to see the world through his eyes and watching him grow has been an amazing experience.  Our family’s journey has not always been easy- sometimes just being able to put one foot in front of the other is the goal for the day.   Our son has receives special programming through school due to developmental delays and schoolwork can be a challenge for him. However, we have been blessed with a wonderful team of educators who have worked with him and he’s been making great progress. Working in special education myself as a speech language pathologist and being a parent of a child that has special needs has given me a unique perspective.   I believe that we walk through life guided by a higher purpose and that this journey I’m taking is the one God had intended for me.  I have felt the presence of angels in my life and I know they are looking after our son.

As a family we have gotten involved with Special Olympics and we have had many moments where we have seen angels in action.  The confidence, social skills, and overall development that my son has gained from participating in Special Olympics has been incredible.  We started off participating in one sport and now we are involved with four- starting with swim in the summer, soccer in the fall, and in the winter and spring basketball and track.  We participate through our city and I can’t thank the staff and volunteers enough for the time and energy they devote to the program.  Their love for what they do is evident at every practice and event that we participate in.  The experience has allowed us as parents to connect with other families who are on a similar journey.

Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the special women who play an integral role in our lives, but I also see it as an opportunity to recognize all those who help support moms. I want to thank all the teachers and staff past and present who have helped shape my son’s education.  You have all been a blessing to this mom. I also want to thank the coaching staff, volunteers, and coordinators with Team Peoria for all they have given us as a family.

I would also like to thank my family, including my mom, for all the love and support she has shown me as well as my mother-in-law who has always made me feel like I was a daughter and not a daughter-in-law.  To my husband, Joe, thank you for giving me a family of my own and for being the one to share my life with.

It is very easy to take for granted the blessings in one’s life, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed by all your responsibilities- trying to manage work, family life, and personal well-being can be a challenge and I know how difficult it can be to keep things in a healthy balance.  Our book ,The Restorative Power of Spirit, is about the healing power of prayer and how the belief in a power greater than ourselves can help guide us through even our most challenging moments.  Motherhood is a blessing, but it can also be overwhelming and when those moments come I find comfort in prayer and the knowledge that my family is in God’s hands.

My prayer is for all moms to have peace of heart and peace of mind. I realize that not everyone has access to the same support or resources and that, as a result, parenting may be particularly challenging. I pray that God gives you the strength to care for yourself and those that are depending upon you. 

Blessings to all moms everywhere,

Sheryl Brooks