Ten orange farmers purchased seeds to grow more orange trees. When those seeds began to sprout, they came to realize that they had inadvertently planted apple trees.
Nine of the farmers pulled the sprouting apple trees up from the roots, threw them away, and went back to their business of orange farming.
The tenth farmer kept the apple tree and nurtured it. He watered it and gave it nutrients. He protected it during storms and repaired its broken branches.
In short time, the apple tree began to produce apples. There were not enough for the farmer to market like he did his oranges, but there were enough to give all of the farmer’s family and farm hands something different to enjoy every day.
When the farmer shared his extra apples with the other farmers, they commented that they wished they had kept their apple trees too.
Today is International Down Syndrome Day, and my son Josh, who has Down Syndrome, is my apple tree.
92% of parents who learn during their pregnancy that their unborn child has Down Syndrome choose to abort their child. People with Down Syndrome have the same right to the dignity of life and love as everyone else. They are not less, they are merely different. They are hard-wired to love, and so are a precious commodity.
For my wife and me, Josh was not a “choice.” He was and is our son. And his apples have enriched our lives and improved the world.
