Sweet Jennifer

This is Jennifer Lee Knowles, my little sister. Jennifer is Special. Her Smile is Special, Her ways are Special, And if you've ever gotten to meet her, you know that Her Love is Special. If you haven't had the blessing to meet Jennifer you are missing out. -Jennifer has Cerebral Palsy-

Here's a poem I recently wrote about her:

Perfectly Flawed

If words could capture silence, and paint it for the earth,
If actions captured stillness, and taught you what it's worth.

If you could see what it's like through a blind man's eyes,
Maybe then you'd see how much it means to see the suffering cry.

If smiles expressed all emotions, and Joy came after death,
If choosing someone else's way was the way you always felt was best.

If you could hear what it's like through a deaf man's ears,
Maybe then you'd hear for real, and cherish children's tears.

If Philanthropy could conquer Philosophy, and give to everyone,
If Politics was Cake or brownie mix, well, we'd just about be done.

If you could go a mile twain, without being pushed from behind,
Maybe then you'd come in last, just proud you crossed the line.

So why do we all get caught up over our next trivial trial?
Truth be told it just makes us old, so where's that Big ol' Smile?

If you could theorize life's goals though a special child's thought
Maybe then you'd understand you've lost what you've always sought.

Perhaps their not the slower ones; they just move at heaven's pace,
While the rest of us go flying by, afraid were loosing face.

Just stop and take a moment, retard your Thoughts and slow your Bod,
Then let the spirit show you, truly perfect children, are ones that we call flawed.

-Brad Brockbank-

Jennifer was born about 17 months after me, but during the birth she was deprived of precious oxygen for quite a while, in fact she died. My dad has never prayed like he prayed on July 14th 1981. Few have ever prayed as hard as he did on that day. And God did hear the cries of my father and did grant unto him the desire of his heart, that His daughter might remain with us for a time.

Behind her are three guys that she swore she would come to this earth to protect.

Her battle is not with Bin Laden, or a knife wielding thief, but rather the Adversary. And she is one in a billion of our Heavenly Fathers' Children who can fight him like she can and has all of our lives. We have protected her while on this earth from the Bin Ladens and Thiefs of the world, but even then our battle is futile cause in the end, we all know where she will be.

I love my little sister so much. Growing up she was the joy that helped us forget the Washington rain. I cannot begin to express how blessed I feel to have Jennifer as part of our family. She still continues to bless us, and Her sweet talented husband Raymond is a huge blessing as well.

Jennifer, I love you and can't wait to see you soon! Don't worry, we haven't forgotten that your Birthday is on July 14th! (We'll get you something X-tra special!)

To all the rest of you, Find the special child within ourselves. I'm living proof, that there's a little bit of a slow child in all of us, and that's ooohh-tay!

-Keep on Smiling-