Our ministry in India was a surprising piece of home. We had the privilege of partnering with Sarah’s Covenant Home (SCH), an organization providing foster care to abandoned children with special needs.
The first time I entered SCH I was a bit overwhelmed. Which I think says a lot given my background working with kids and adults with special needs. There were kids laying immobile on the floor. Adults scooting across the ground because they had no control of their legs. Children with oversized heads and undersized bodies.
It was a lot to take in. My immediate reaction was to cry. Cry that these children were prisoners to their own bodies. Prisoners to the hand life dealt them. Prisoners to rejection.
However, I noticed a young girl laying on her side smiling. I immediately went over to her. Seeing that she couldn’t lift herself up or even turn over – I did the only thing I could think of, I laid down on the ground with her, mimicking her position and looked her in the eyes.
She was beautiful. But not the world’s typical version of beautiful. See, she was beautiful because she was pure. She was untainted by the sins of our fallen world.
She was beautiful because she was God’s child.
I wrote a blog a few months ago titled Meet Kathryn. Kathryn is my sister and she has Down’s syndrome. Kathryn, however, has certainly never let that keep her down. Her fierceness for life and her generous and never-ending love is contagious. She has snuck her way into many hearts before they even realize it.
What Kathryn has taught me is that she is a prisoner to no one and nothing. Her physical circumstances do not keep her from experiencing the full joy that everyone else experiences. Her mental capacity has not held her back from loving others and understanding the love that she deserves. She has been saved because she is God’s child.
I walked into our Indian ministry thinking this would be a month to relax. An “easy” month because I wasn’t being pushed into the typical uncomfortable growing situations that is the World Race. I thought I had experienced everything there was regarding kids and adults with special needs.
But God had a surprise in store for me.
He taught me I hadn’t experienced this before. He had more to teach me. And he did. He showed me there is no purpose in pitying His children. Because they are just that, His children! And God never leaves His children behind.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18
God taught me that His children have a lot to teach me. Like patience and kindness and joy. So my month of “relaxation” was just that. Relaxing in the promises of God while learning more about how much He loves His children.
For more information about Sarah’s Covenant Home, check out schindia.com
