Can you remember a time when someone said to you, “Just one taste! I promise you’ll like it.” Slowly they dip a fork into their concoction, twirling the bite size morsel into the sauce with all the bits and pieces. As they raise the sample to your mouth, your nose is working like a basset hound trying to determine if you will like it or not. While no one else can hear your thoughts, you are very aware of the voices saying, “Don’t eat it!” or “One bite and you will throw up on your friend!” Wanting to be brave and not offend, you open your mouth and allow them to shove the food into your mouth. For a few seconds all thoughts and sounds cease. Slowly you you begin to chew and allow your taste buds to explore the spices and flavors of the “one taste.” Without even knowing it, a thought enters your mind, “Hey, this isn’t bad! In fact it is delicious!” Our friend was right, “Just one taste! I promise you’ll like it.”
Over the past several years we have promised many parents, “Just one weekend! We promise you will like it.” Sadly, many parents will listen to the voice in their heads that says, “You don’t deserve a weekend away” or “There are others who deserve it more than we do.” Very often we will hear moms and dads say, “We feel guilty taking time for ourselves.” Some will say, “I don’t think my child will like it if we go away for a weekend.” Money, lack of child care, and fear are other examples that we often hear. Some will never overcome these reasons and register for a weekend of respite. But for those who who are brave and willing to “taste” something new we often hear, “Hey, this isn’t bad! In fact it is wonderful.” All they had to do is try one taste.
This Friday we are hosting our fourth Taste of David’s Refuge event. It is one of our premier fund raising events. While its primary purpose is to allow us to raise funding so we can offer the gift of respite to our wonderful and amazing families, it is so much more. Our hope is that those who attend and support our mission will experience and taste what we offer all our families. Brenda and I want to say a huge thank you to every individual, family, and business that is supporting and/or coming to the event. We hope you will leave refreshed and renewed and even more motivated to continue supporting David’s Refuge so we can continue to offer a taste of respite to those who really need it.
I am looking forward to introducing Jeff and Jennifer Rubin, our honorary Co-chairs, to those who are coming to this Friday’s celebration. Jeff and Jennifer got a “Taste” of David’s Refuge as they watched the impact and stress of raising a child with special needs on one of their employees. You will not want to miss how this one taste not only changed this families life but also theirs.