Disabled toddler with special walker needed mum to help him walk—her 3 encouraging words helped him do it himself
Words of encouragement and patience might help a person move forward in their journey, even if it is a hard one. A mom and her disabled toddler set the stage for it as the woman ensured that her kid could walk without her help. The baby, Bedford, was struggling to move ahead with his walker, but his mom kept encouraging him to get ahead on his own. A few words from her changed the toddler's entire response to the situation, per a video shared by the mom, who goes by @wonderfullifewithbedford on TikTok. The video received over 22.9 million views on the platform.
Bedford was trying to get onto a curb that was a little higher than where he was standing with his special walker. However, it wasn't easy for him without his mom's help. "This summer has consisted of me encouraging him to switch his dialogue from 'Mommy do it' to 'I do it,'" the text overlay of the video read. "You can do it," the mom encouraged the baby as he tried to pull up his walker. "Mommy, do it," he responded as he struggled with pulling up the walker. "Hold it up," the mom prompted Bedford to keep going and give one big pull-up to the walker. Even though he resisted at first because of how hard it was, he got ready to try it on his own.
@wonderfullifewithbedford If a two year old can learn that repetition builds endurance, tenacity, and drive, may we all stop making excuses for doing the hard things. That second walk will be easier than the first. That second run will be easier than the first. That second day waking up early to prioritize time with Jesus will be easier than the first. That showing grace, forgiveness, and love to someone you feel doesn’t deserve it will be easier every single time we exercise the muscle of our heart that Jesus gave us. What are you tackling today? Bedford will meet you at the curb. #schwartzjampelsyndrome #rarediseaseawareness #buildforbeddy #fyp #warrior ♬ original sound - 𝙇𝙭𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙯 🫶🏻
On the first go, he pulled up the walker with a little help from his mom and got onto the curb. "You got it, you got it," his mom went on. "Look at me, pull up, good." The woman expressed, "You did it." Then Bedford got ready to try once again and this time he managed to walk all on his own. "See, you didn't even need my help," she celebrated. "If a two-year-old can learn that repetition builds endurance, tenacity and drive, may we all stop making excuses for doing the hard things," the caption read. "That second walk will be easier than the first. That second run will be easier than the first."
People appreciated the mom's strength and the baby's will to never give up in the comments section of the video. @kenzieemadison wrote, "As a future pediatric physical therapist, it makes my heart so happy to see how much you encourage him through this — family-centered care is so important." @junegordon01 commented, "Heavenly Father...please watch over this boy's well-being and give strength to his parents to help raise him. Please also give wisdom to all those involved in his life and upbringing. In the name of Jesus...Amen." @taylar___ remarked, "As a physcial therapist, you did great! As a mom, I know it was hard to see him struggle, but so rewarding to see him succeed."
In another clip, the mom explained that Bedford had been diagnosed with Schwartz Jampel Syndrome early in life. The condition caused muscle stiffness throughout his body. In the caption, the woman went on, "When we first received Beddy’s diagnosis, a friend reminded me to let my people hold up my arms when I felt I was falling, struggling, or discouraged." Her son's diagnosis showed her the importance of community like she had never seen before. Although she had willingly been there for people before, it was a big experience for her when she had people around her during her challenging times. "Maybe you’re in a season where you need those people to hold you up. Pray specifically for those people. Lean into those people."
@wonderfullifewithbedford When we first received Beddy’s diagnosis, a friend reminded me to let my people hold up my arms when I felt I was falling, struggling, or discouraged, the same way that Aaron and Hur supported the arms of Moses, one on each side, until sunset (Exodus 17). With THEIR support, they were victorious with God’s hand. In all honesty, Beddy’s diagnosis has taught me so much more about community. I valued it before this. I intentionally poured into it before this. But MAN, the absolute joy of doing life together with other people, not just through the good, but the HARD. Maybe you’re in a season where you NEED those people to hold you up. Pray specifically for those people. Lean into those people. Maybe you’re in a season where the Lord is putting those people on your heart, to show up for THEM, to hold THEM up. Life is so short. What a privilege to show up for the people God places before us, to stay when it gets hard, to not walk away, to roll up our sleeves and walk through the mud with them. When it’s all said and done, I hope my shoes are CAKED with mud when I stand before my Savior. May our footprints leave a muddy mess behind us to remind others what really matters in this life God gave us: PEOPLE. #schwartzjampelsyndrome #rarediseaseawareness #buildforbeddy #fyp #warrior #family ♬ This Is Me - Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble
You can follow @wonderfullifewithbedford on TikTok for more family-related content.