Faith Foundation #3 - God shows compassion.
Faith Foundation #3 - God has compassion for the marginalized.
The inherent value of the intellectually disabled may be questioned or diminished by others. However, God shows compassion and care for the marginalized.
In 11 years of raising Jude, we’ve felt overlooked. We have felt out of place. We have felt like we didn’t belong. We have felt misunderstood. It’s the reality of raising a child with special needs. It’s inevitable.
Two lessons we’ve learned from those situations where we felt marginalized are:
Our family is our own brand of weird. We often don’t even know we’re feeling marginalized. It’s not like we have time to stop in the middle of a busy day and say “you know what - I’m feeling rather marginalized today” (***adjusts monocle and puts down smoking pipe***). Instead, we feel that we have a close bond with each other. We know our quirks, live with them, enjoy them, and feel the utmost acceptance and love within our immediate family. Feeling marginalized has made our family closer. It has made our home a safe haven for our weirdness.
God has never left us. He still answers our prayers, meets our needs, and helps us grow closer to him individually and collectively. He cares for us in our weirdness. He sends encouragement - from strange places - to make us feel included. He understands us when nobody else does.
Supporting Scripture
"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
"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. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.” 1 Corinthians 12:22-23
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”Psalm 82:3-4