Me Too - Lexi

I had the pleasure of driving with Lexi to the Chattanooga Autism Center Walk 2016 this weekend.  By ourselves in the car I knew that “Tween Music” on my Pandora would make the drive easier for her as riding in a car has never been fun for her.  She knows all the words to all the songs and when Meghan Trainor’s song “Me Too” came on Lexi asked me to turn it up.  The tune is fun to listen to.  The song is about her, I assume, and the life and times of a pop star.  Yes, it sounds a bit conceited but then it probably is pretty accurate of her life.  But it was the chorus that struck me and which Lexi loved the most.  It goes like this:

“I thank God every day (uh huh)
That I woke up feelin' this way (uh huh)
And I can't help lovin' myself
And I don't need nobody else, nuh uh”

Wow.  Powerful words for anyone to believe in.  But that Lexi is a child with Autism and wakes up every day loving herself is beautiful.  I learned this weekend that 1 girl in 189 girls are affected by Autism.  That statistic surprised me more than I can say.  I’m not sure why.  We knew from day one that Lexi was different but a diagnosis didn’t come until she was 6 years old.  Until I learned the facts about Autism, I was like every other person who judges children who are different without knowing all the facts.  Thanks to the awareness I am learning every day through the CAC, I feel more confident that I’m not judging anymore.

When Lexi asked me to turn up the song when it got to the chorus, I did it.  To sing out with joy that she is happy, confident, loves herself and thanks God for it every day; that’s all I need to know that she is on the right path and will succeed in whatever life brings her.  Her gratitude for all who participated at the walk and/or made a donation was sincere.  Her huge bear hug and genuine “thank you” she gave everyone as they left our home after the Walk, said it all.

As for me, I thank God every day for all my grandchildren and their love for each other.  I thank God every day for my family and friends who supported the Walk by sending money, prayers, and good wishes; who called, cheered us on, and sent messages of love.  It’s not about the money as much it is about the Love.