You may or may not know that the 40 days before Easter make up the season of Lent. This is a period of preparation; a time to slow down, let go, and make space for God to work in your life. Many people “give up” something for Lent.
Everybody knows that there are different types of “love”. Clearly, loving Target (which I do) and loving your newborn child are two very different things! I mean, I would assume… my husband and I don’t have children. But we do have a dog, and spending time with her definitely evokes different emotions than spending time perusing the Target dollar section!
Going into 2010, my New Year's resolution was to “get a life”. I was 26, single and worked a high-stress job. I had struggled to make and keep a friend group since elementary school, so my friends had changed based on life stage. High school friends were lost when I went to college; college friends were lost when we graduated and scattered across the country. The few people I had reconnected with after moving back from college were getting married and having kids at breakneck speed. I did attend a local church, but it felt like I was in some no-man's land between “right out of college” and “newly married”.
Since I didn’t really fit the demographic of any of the small groups that were offered, I chose to tag along with my friends who attended the “newly married” group.
But all things that bring glory to God will remain. I have seen incredible joy, hope, and unconditional love embodied by many people with disabilities. There is no need to “heal” those gifts. And I believe that those who praised and exalted God on earth despite great challenges and pain will be lifted up high and celebrated.
Some may see that as irreverent, but you can’t deny the presence of God in that room. It is tangible, and I believe that all of heaven is dancing and cheering right along with us!
I have wondered for many years why people shy away from interacting with individuals who act or look differently because of a disability.