Thursday, February 11, 2010

Ode to Samahria

FROM BEARS (Barry Neil Kaufman): Samahria picked me to love when she was 17. When I presented my writing and ideas with intensity, she tickled me and laughed. When I hesitated, she said "jump."

When Raun became autistic, she joined him in his world (in a small bathroom) and helped us begin a three-and-a-half year journey that created a treatment revolution (The Son-Rise Program®) for children with autism. When I suggested adopting yet another child of trauma as a way to express our gratitude for our blessings, she said "when?" When we started the Institute, she worked with me side-by-side as we created classes and curriculum as well as cleaned buildings and made beds for arriving participants.

When I have written my books about our work with families and children and what we and our staff teach to adults (Option Process®), she has been more than my sounding board but my editor and biggest fan (and co-writer of one of those books and co-screenwriter of the Son-Rise movie). When I asked her to climb down a rope ladder on an ocean-liner during a storm in order to help my dying father, she took a deep breath, pushed through her fear and lowered herself right after me into a tiny fishing boat bobbing in the icy waves off the coast of Alaska.

And, when I am tired at night after teaching, doing sessions and meeting with staff all day (just as she had done), Samahria strolls into my office where I am still working, takes my hand gently and invites me to choose life and go to sleep. We're all blessed for a multitude of reasons. Helping individuals, families and children as best we can for decades is a continuous highlight of our lives. But my greatest blessing is to be loved by my very special life-long bride and best friend and sweet mama to all our children -- she loves me like no other, inspires me to do my best and builds bridges with me to our dreams.

3 comments:

  1. Wonderful Bears. I am crying. Thank you for yet again tempting me to go to my loving place inside. Also I like that you praise her, Samahria is outstanding. Maybe all marriages could benefit from the husband trying to write an ODE to their wife. Love and hugs from Denmark, Rakel

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  2. To be blessed with a love like the one you have is fantastic - to truely appreciate it is ... outstanding

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  3. Hi Bears (& Samaria)
    I have been thinking about Samaria lately and how she laughs so much with the joy and bliss bubbling up out of her. Cudos to both of you for being that loving, caring, accepting person for each other who jumps on the band wagon with each other and goes for a glorious ride!
    Love, Jackie

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