Hello world, my name is Geraldine,
And I was born in a household of three.
Growing up, I noticed something—
So different between my siblings and me.
My sister was a cheerleader,
My brother, a popular athlete.
I was always happy to cheer them on—
Football, basketball, or at the track meet.
I felt different.
I had no friends.
People who came around
Just teased and ridiculed me—
But when they saw my brother and sister coming,
Like the breeze of the wind, they’d turn and flee.
I felt so alone.
No friends, so I thought—
But I was mistaken.
My siblings were my siblings,
But they also were my friends to the end.
At times, I wonder why I was even born.
The cruelness of life has me torn.
But one day, while alone in my room,
I heard a nest of birds sing—
The rhythmic flow!
Now I know, that music is my niche.
Music is my thing.
Their melody drifted in through my window,
Light as air, but strong as truth.
Them birds—a message from God in disguise—
Led me to singing and playing.
What a wonderful surprise.
I sat at the family piano,
And started to play
What the birds were singing—by ear.
I was never given lessons—
I just played what I would hear.
My family came home
And heard a beautiful melody,
A melodic ring.
I was singing and playing—
Then I heard voices cheer me on:
“Sing it from your heart!
Go sing it from your heart, Geraldine!”
I was once ashamed,
But now I am proud.
Where I used to be a small voice,
People acknowledge me—out loud.
The same people who mocked me,
Who called me names,
Now want the attention
I thought I’d never gain.
Man—how life can change.
Heavenly Father, you heard my cries.
You placed me on this platform,
And without You,
There would be no me.
Thank You for the beautiful blessing
That You turned out to be—for me.
I may be special
Because I see things in a prism.
Had to break away from the world,
Living in a chasm.
But I learned—
Just because I am different
Doesn’t mean I’m irrelevant.
I’m who I am:
A special person with special needs,
Very relevant.
I am proud of the person that I am—
Living with autism.