By: Victoria Hoverson
“You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” -Isaiah 62:3
For the last year, I have been working at a group home with people with disabilities. It has been such an incredible experience. Even with their physical and mental limitations, these people have taught me so much and brought a lot of joy and purpose to my life.
It is easy to think that someone with a developmental disability does not have any responsibility for the actions they take and the things they say; yet many of the people I work with take responsibility for these things. While they do not always understand the consequences of their words and actions, they will apologize or try to do better when they realize where they went wrong. Their faithful repentance has been a reminder to me that I have to take responsibility for the things I do and say. Just because I have a justification for why I did or said something, does not mean that what I did or said was carried out in the kindest way, or that I should not try to do better next time.
Another thing that I have learned from working with these incredible people is to appreciate the little things. It is amazing to see how something so little, like baking banana bread or playing catch outside, can make someone’s day. I have never had so much fun baking as when I was making banana bread with one of my clients. I have learned how to slow down and appreciate the small details and little joys of each thing I am doing; there is no need to be in a rush; life is so much more exciting when you stop and appreciate the small things.
God teaches us in His Word that each person is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). This means that having a disability is not a mistake. God carefully and lovingly created each person the way they are, with or without a disability. It’s true that these people need special care, attention, and guidance. They may need help knowing what is right and wrong, and reminders as to which actions are appropriate or not. They may even need to be watched carefully because they do not always know proper limits. Yet, despite these realities, each person with special needs is a gift. Each of the individuals I have served has served me as well. As the verse above reminds us, we are a “crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,” with or without a disability, and we are each loved by Him enough that He would die for us and restore our relationship with Him.