Follow Up to "One More Day" Poem

One day last week I featured a beautiful inspirational poem called "One More Day," which is about spending more quality time with our children. I came across the poem on the Internet and loved it, but was disappointed to see that the author was unknown. I knew a very special person had written the poem and I wanted to give them credit for it.

I received an e-mail note yesterday from a very gracious lady named Sally Meyer, who told me that she wrote the poem for her son Dhylan when he was three years old.

Sally gave me permission to use the poem, but requested that I attribute the poem to her and print the original text she wrote for Dhylan. She also included a link to her poetry web site which features more of her poetry.

I visited Sally's site and met Sally's son Dhylan, the beautiful little boy who is the inspiration for her writings. As I began to read some of Sally's work, I discovered that Dhylan is autistic. I also discovered that he is truly blessed to have Sally as his mother. Through Sally's beautiful, loving, and awe-inspiring way with words we get a glimpse of the everyday struggles, challenges, heartbreak, and even the joys of sharing life with an autistic child. In her note, Sally told me that Dhylan is 16 now, and is doing remarkably well.

When I shared Sally's poem, I had no idea it would touch my heart in such a profound and meaningful way. I hope you will visit her web site. I'm sure her beautiful spirit, which is reflected through her words, will inspire you and touch your heart, too.

Here is Sally's original poem:

Just for This Day

Just for this morning, I am going to smile whenever I see your face, and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your flannel and I will hold you until you are ready.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say you're beautiful.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I am going to eat a huge breakfast, with bacon, eggs, toast and waffles, and you don't have to eat any.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to 'fix' things.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you put all kinds of barettes in my hair, and put lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look.

Just for this afternoon I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a happy meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born, and how much we love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get angry when you throw water over your sister's head.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch swing and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle beside you for three hours and miss my favorite show on t.v.

Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything, except

just one more day.

(c) Sally Meyer 1996