By little and by little we are saved.
Dorothy Day
We witnessed another miracle at the Early Intervention Centre this year. A child no one ever thought would walk got up and did just that.
One of the therapists told me it was a sight she would never forget: the astonishment and joy, the overwhelming emotion on the mother’s face, the amazement and triumph on the child’s – and all in the blink of an eye. “We weren’t expecting it,” she said. “It happened from one moment to the next.”
From one moment to the next! Oh, yes, and in-between, two long years.
Miracles require a surprising amount of effort. That child walked because day after day after day, he, his parents, his therapists and his teachers worked hard to make that golden moment happen. Tiny, sustained steps to build his muscles and coordination and confidence and courage. Daily exercises. Constant practice. That’s how it works.
By little and by little.
2012 was a remarkable one for the Latika Roy Foundation. We were honored with two major national awards, received an enormous grant from the government, got a donation larger than any we have ever dreamed of from a friend and won an innovative projects award from a major overseas donor. It’s enough to turn your head, put a spring in your step and make you believe in magic.
And we do, we do. But eighteen years of hard work, tiny steps and small achievements have taught us that change comes slowly, that habits are created over time and through constant repetition and that it is by little and by little that we are saved. No change occurs without effort. You have to earn your miracles.
We learned this first because it’s fundamental to special needs. And, as always, the lessons we learn from our children can be applied throughout our lives. In building, in fundraising, in teaching, in learning to walk or tie your shoes or control your temper: You practice. You fail. You keep at it. You fail again. You try once more. By little and by little, the change happens.
Like everything else we do, this calendar is just one step on a much longer journey toward that inclusive world we are all working to create. When you buy it, when you hang it on your wall, when you share it with your friends, you bring us one step closer to our destination. Your support, encouragement and generosity have brought us this far.
By little and by little, with faith and hard work, the miracles will continue.
Thank you for being a part of the plan.
-–Jo Chopra
