My friend recently gave me a book by Michael S. Beates called Disability & the Gospel. Although I’m not quite finished reading it, I highly recommend it. Everyone could benefit by reading this book.
Our world and culture cries out for us to highly regard the status symbols of the day: health, wealth, nice car, the popular person. Christ calls us to embrace the lowly, the least of these, the blind, the crippled, the lame…the forgotten ones, the ones we want to overlook or shoo away. But Christ says, “Come to Me.”
When I was in grade school, the teacher wrote this on the board: chURch and asked what it means. I can remember saying, “The church you are.” She said I was close. “You are the church,” she exclaimed. We, the people, are the church. And we all really do need and benefit from one another. When someone with a developmental disability or mental illness comes to church, we must embrace and love them. We actually learn more of His great love as we learn how to best love each and every person.
Why do we waste so much time spinning our wheels to “arrive”?? Where is it we are trying to go?? Who are we trying to keep up with?? Is the grass really greener on the other side?
Resting in His love, mercy, greatness, and trusting that His sovereign plan is what He wants for us is not always easy or reachable in a given moment.? When an accident happens or job loss occurs, for example, it may be really easy to kindle bitterness and questioning.? Some people learn through health challenges that they must rest in the Lord.? When we realize afresh our utter dependence on HIm, when we are sick or needy or hurting we are broken by Him and we learn more of humility and our need of a Saviour.? We must always cling to Christ or Lord, He who endured every kind of suffering, pain and affliction.
The Proverbs are so much a HUGE TREASURE CHEST of wisdom……….more gleanings are coming.? I’m struck by the breadth of issues covered; foibles and follies of human relationships are dealt with throughout the book.