Disabilities come in many fashions- genetic, heredity, and physical accidents post birth that limit the body and/or the mind. Some disabilites affect the private lives of its owner, while others reveal themselves to strangers.
These disabilities challenge the owner, or possibly cloud the mind to any challenge. The disability might be the only thing a stranger sees. The disability might trap the owner for fear of being discovered.
The truth is we all have a disability. This disability, perhaps, cripples us the most in what matters most- Love. The good stuff… the unconditional stuff that grows you, warms you always, and provides peace to any struggle. You may be thinking about a struggle that cripples you, and I wonder if we think alike. I think my greatest fear to overcome is my pride, and I think my pride often keeps me from experiencing true Love. Let me introduce to you a young boy named J. L.
J. Louis is one of the children here at the orphanage. He doesn’t talk verbally, but with his eyes he makes things known. He is thirteen going on three, he can eat by himself and has the use of his legs until he falls, which is often enough. J. L. only cries (that I’m aware of) during some mealtimes. He likes to carry and flip a beanie baby. He has handsome dark brown hair and a cheerful disposition. He gives hugs without reservation, and plants sweet kisses in your hair.
This morning we were reading Bible stories outside in the sunshine. (It is cold here, but we were cozy.) All morning J. L. had been kissing the hair of a friend here, bothering him quite a bit to be honest, and was keen on doing the same with me while I was reading the stories outside. Mind you, I wasn’t very accessible for snuggles just because of where I was sitting between wheelchairs and the railing.
He falls head first into my chest, perfectly content to be close. He was loving me. There was no embarrassing ” gosh, sorry I fell on you.” I can guarantee he wasn’t self conscious about how he came across, or about being in the way. He was just interested in loving me. I don’t even think he was expecting it back.. he was just enjoying his own outpouring.
I believe this boy has the simple truth of Love down pat.
I’m encouraged to press onward to loving people without expecting love in return… like Jesus. We love so easily when we receive something in return… but how often do we turn our backs on an offender? How often do we hold bitterness, or develop apathy towards neighbors or family who dismiss us?
For pride is spiritual cancer, it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. C. S. Lewis , Mere Christianity
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