Damian said this in Post <a href="http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=642528#post642528">#1</a>
I have a little brother with a "developmental disorder." I am tired of people bother him and not accepting him as a person. I want to make him more accepted in society. If anyone has any advice on this problem please get back to me. He means alot to me and I am tired of seeing him hurt all the time.
In Gods Name,
Mark
I know exactly what you are going through. My own brother has Fragile X syndrome. I've been through exactly everything you discribed. I've always felt that I've got to procect my brother. I didn't want anything bad to come his way. I didn't want him to see that people could be very cruel. He was very often teased in school. I did my best to protect him from what I could. But I couldn't be there all the time. I still get very angry to this day when I think back on some of the things he went through. So much angry, I have to stop and ask the Lord to help me to forgive the people who hurt him. I have to remind myself that God is in control, not me. If I had my way, my brother would lead a very very sheltered life. BUT, that is wrong of me. I can't sheild him from life. I don't admit this to too many people, because I'm so ashamed of myself. But there are times that I am embarrassed by my brother. I sometimes don't understand why I'm like that sometimes. But it is something that I deal with. My brother is so full of life. He goes through life without embarassment, without hangups, without hate. He is a living example of how we should be. He loves to be around people. He will talk to anyone. I myself sometimes I wish I could be more like him. Not to have to deal with all the "mind" stuff. Not to have to deal with the troubles that he seems not to deal with.
BUT, I do know one thing, he is a child of God and God is the only one who can protect him. I can't. I can't live my life as though I am his mother. I have to live my own life and not worry about him, because he sure doesn't worry about himself. He could care less what people think of him. He could care less if people have a problem with his disablity. He could care less if he is the subject of "talk" behind his back. He lives life the way most people wish they could. I admire him greatly of how he lives his life. I can only wish for the peace of mind he has.
I don't know if any of this helps at all. You just have to trust the Lord, that he know what is best for your brother. Don't make the mistake I did, and try to be the parent. I regret I ever did that. I tried to be his mother instead of his sister. I am only now, being the sister I should have been all these years. I'm not perfect but I'm sure trying to do my best. I've had to do a lot of "backing off" and let the boy live his life.
You see, we as their siblings set the example that they go by. As it is for any older brother or sister. Let's strive to make that the best example we can. Be carefree, be happy, be angry, be sad. Be everything you want to be, don't hold back. And as for the people who can't seem to help themselves and are cruel to these special, special, children. God help them.
In Christ,
Anna