By GARY ANDREWS
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As we travel down life’s highway each day we are going to be around certain people that we think are subpar to us because of physical or mental handicaps. I wonder just how off base or warped our minds could be, because people with handicaps are more sensitive to others than we ever thought to be. They are also more appreciative of what they have instead of what they don’t have.
I am reminded of a story of several business men running through an airport trying to make a plane schedule. As they hurried along one or more of them bumped an apple cart being cared for by a young blind girl. Apples went everywhere and the men knowing they had to make the plane hurried on their way without stopping. Within a few yards from the stand one of the men realized he needed to stop and help the young lady even though he would miss his plane.
Many of us hurry through life without thinking of whom or what is around us and how we could possibly impact their lives, especially people that are blind, deaf, or otherwise handicapped. Don’t get me wrong for there are many tremendous souls that have a calling to work with the handicap and cater to their needs. These people are God sent and their crowns in glory will contain many jewels. Most of us have an “I” problem and don’t stop to see what we can do help those we think have “imperfections.”
We always seem to be in such a hurry that stopping to speak, help or listen to someone we think may be below us seems to get in our way. We seem to be always looking for the quick fix to gain something that will not mean anything when we leave this world. Instead we need to look at others as we want them to look at us. We need to be encouragers, supporters and helpers to all people, not to the select few we think are going to help us the most. We need to listen to what the Lord told Moses to tell the entire assembly of Israel in Leviticus 19:14: “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.”
The business man that stopped running for his plane returned to the site of the young blind girl and her apple cart. When he arrived she was crying and groping around trying to find her apples. A crowd had surrounded her but no one would help her.
The salesman knelt to the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this he noticed much of the product had been bruised because of the spill they had taken. When he had finished he pulled out his wallet and gave her $40 for the damage. He asked her, “Are you okay?” She nodded through her tears.
As he got up to leave the young 16-year old blind girl asked him, “Are you Jesus?”
He stopped and gently said to her, “No, I am nothing like Jesus. He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would have never bumped into your display in the first place.”
The girl gently nodded: “I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him. Only He knows who will do His will. Thank you for hearing His call, Mister.”
Has anyone told you that you were sent by Jesus because you listened to His call? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference should be our destiny. We need to live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
Always remember that Jesus stopped what He was doing and picked all of us up on a hill call Calvary and paid for our damaged fruit.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for all the people in this world you have given us. Make me aware of everyone that I come into contact with and that I can be sensitive to their needs through your leadership. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Philippians 1:12-19; Monday – Proverbs 31:8-9; Tuesday – Luke 1:57-66; Tuesday – Psalm 10:1-10; Wednesday – Hebrews 12:12-13; Thursday – Isaiah 35:1-10; Friday – Galatians 4:12-14; Saturday – Job 4:1-4.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.