An Excerpt from the book written by Dr. Ramon Brown “The Encounter”

That conversation that my mom had with me was very impactful at the time. I kept it fresh in my mind and I would focus on it from time to time. Then one day I heard somebody ask one of my family members about me. They wanted to know why I was isolated from everyone and why was I always wanting to be alone? Though I was a great distance from them, I have always been blessed with great hearing and discernment ever since I could remember. The family member responded to that question by saying “that I was slow and different.” I know for sure that the response was not intended to be rude or malicious, but it is the kind of questions and answers children tend to give one another when they are in conversation amongst their peers. Anyway, It was as if the mere uttering of those words awoke a brooding silent monster. He echoed everything I heard constantly in an agonizing whisper “mentally retarded.” His sole purpose was to break me. You know how your parents give you specific instructions for coming home from school or going on a field trip? They tell you, “no matter what others decide to do, this is the expectation set for you.” As a child, you honor them and do what they say. Well, I knew that my mom told me that there was nothing wrong with me and that I was completely fine. However, that huge silent monster spoke a different narrative to me, and it had been brewing in my spirit since I learned of the news that doctors gave my mother about my mental state. As a little boy, I began to receive or entertain the huge silent monster comments toward me.

Changing Lives