Reasons to Care

I first met Diana 50 years ago when we sat next to each other in high school biology. Since then, my dear friend has experienced several difficult health challenges including a double mastectomy to remove cancer, a retinal tear in her left eye, diabetes, blood pressure problems, and severe pain in her knees. Through all of this, Diana has kept up a great attitude, not to mention a thriving outreach to people with disabilities in Ethiopia. Recently, I checked out her Caring Bridge site to read her latest prayer needs – she also posted a list of reasons to care about people living with disabilities. I just had to share it with you, and so, why should you care about people with disabilities?

1. Your actions will show others that you are a true disciple of Christ (“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples”– John 13:35).

2. As you do for the least of them, you do for Jesus (“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” – Matthew 25:40).

3. The weaker parts are indispensable and deserve special honor (“On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor” –1 Corinthians 12:22-23).

4. Someone you know could be disabled…

5. Someone you love could be disabled…

6. You could become disabled.

Those last three reasons really struck me. We see ramps and handicap parking places and we think, “Oh, those things are for other people.” But the truth is, one day those access features might be for you. So please be one who cares for the disabled now, and you may well have others who, in the future, will care for you. It’s just another way of reaping what you sow.