Flukes

"A fluke of nature". I heard that phrase 23 years ago when Megan was born. I've always thought of a "fluke" as something unexplainable; something at least a little unappealing. More recently, I saw the word used this way; "...a day of terrible seizures. Fingers crossed that tomorrow is better and it is just a fluke and not a trend." Certainly, this was an example of an unappealing event. While playing FreeRice a week or so ago, I was to find the best meaning for "fluke" from the 4 choices. Imagine my surprise when the answer was "good fortune"! That made me wonder and I looked for definitions and found that fluke means "accidentially successful", "stroke of luck" and the only slight reference to a possible unappealing definition was "unlikely chance or occurrence" but even that ended with "esp. a surprising piece of luck". Took me back 23 years when the doctors told me Megan's Down syndrome was simply a "fluke of nature". As I listened to a member of the Down syndrome support group tell me that I would need to call them cause I would lose friends cause of Megan's birth, I certainly wasn't thinking of my "fluke of nature" as good fortune. (23 years later I can say friends have come and gone but I can't attribute even one "lost" friend to Megan's birth. What in the world was that woman thinking to say such a thing? But, that's a whole different story!) Hmmmm...I can tell you that never once in the intervening years when relating to people about my "fluke of nature" did I perceive it as a "stroke of luck". Now though, I can't help but think of it from the "other" side and realize that Megan was, in fact and indeed, a "stroke of luck". Instead of causing me to lose friends, she's actually been the impetus behind some very good and dear friendships. I've commented numerous times over the years about that very fact. She tries very hard (and I resist way too much) to help me slow down and enjoy life more. I'm constantly trying to hurry her up when I really should just be enjoying her slower pace. What really makes me laugh, though, are the times she urges me to hurry up! She sees life so innocently and I really wish I could have that same innocence. I've said over the years that I want to be just like Megan "when I grow up". haha Believe me, I've strongly felt over the years that Megan's been a blessing in so many ways but it took a silly little word game for me to turn around a simple phrase into a positive and realize that all the good she's brought into my life started that very first day when I was told she was a "stroke of luck" from nature. Looking for the "silver lining" in situations has made many of my days less stress-ful. May it be the same for you!