A Disability is NOT a Blessing

A disability is NOT a blessing! I have heard this throughout my life, but hearing someone else say it recently brought this gross misunderstanding back to my mind. A lady told my mom, "My daughter has been blessed with two diseases."

I looked up the definition of blessing. It means "to bestow good of any kind upon." A disability is not good. It causes indescribable pain and torment for people. I am in the process of writing a book about my life, detailing what I have went through. It has NOT been good. I would not wish cerebral palsy on my worst enemy.

Having to get four shots around my ankle last week was not a blessing.

Driving almost two hours both ways to Augusta every six months to get pain medicine is not a blessing.

Sleepless nights are not a blessing.

Being cut on and having extensive recoveries from surgeries is not a blessing.

 What is even more disturbing is a well-known woman with a disability says, "I am suffering for Jesus." I have news for everyone reading this blog. I am NOT suffering for Jesus! He went to the Cross 2,000 years ago and took every pain and disease known to man upon Himself so that we wouldn't have to bear them. You may be asking, "Well, if Jesus took all diseases for us, why are there so many disabilities like Lou Gehring's Disease, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, MS, and narcolepsy? I will tell you.

 John 10:10 has the answer. "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." Amplified Bible The devil is the one who puts all sickness and disease on humans. He wants to stop you from fulfilling God's plan for your life. God did not "bless" anyone with diseases or disabilities. And He didn't put sickness or a disability on you or a loved one to "teach you something." He certainly didn't make me this way. Saying that is just like saying, "Oh, God sat up in Heaven one day and said, "I'll give her cerebral palsy." That's just not who He is.

Diseases and everything bad came as a result of what Adam did in the Garden of Eden. Up until that point, everything was perfect. Adam didn't know anything about pain. 

Similarly, I am not suffering for Jesus. While the Bible speaks of suffering, God is not talking about physical suffering. It's a lie that many people have believed in order to feel better about what they are going through. Most don't say it out loud, but they think, "This is for God's glory! God's got something great for me to do because He gave me this disability!" Friends, God had a wonderful plan for your life before your parent's ever even thought about you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Study the Word and ask God to show you the truth. If you really desire to know the truth, He will reveal it to you. A disability does change your perspective, but it is not a blessing. I will never be one of those people who say it is.

In my Nephew's Eyes

In my nephew's eyes
All is right in the world
I am his friend

In my nephew's eyes
There are no limits
He sees nothing but possibilities

In an instant, he can turn my day around
One laugh piercing my thoughts
One smile makes everything bright again

In him, I see joy
I've watched him go from a tiny baby to a little boy
Playing with abandon, not a care in the world

In my nephew's eyes, I can see the future
Everyday is an adventure
Who knew making mudholes and watching movies could be so much fun?

If I could bottle up the glimmer in his eyes
The loving touch of his hands
I would in an instant

I see one of the best parts of me
In my nephew's eyes

Mason, my oldest nephew, I'll love you forever!

Choices

I have made a goal of posting things that I have written but never posted on here.

Written on June 23,2010

Image Credit: Decisions, decisions, decisions... © Paul de Bruin freeimages.com

We can make a change if want to

It’s up to us what we do

Look at yourself in the mirror

Are ya worth imitating?

Or are ya just agitating things

We get to make choices everyday

Don’t look back on life and say I’d change this or that

You need to own up to your actions.  You know from wrong from right

Just know when ya look in that mirror, you can change

Each opportunity to spread blessings or spew hate

So which are gonna choose?

Don’t look to your buddies to guide you

'Cause when it’s over they won’t be with you

We get to make a change if we want to

It’s up to us what we do

Look at yourself in the mirror

Are ya worth imitating?

Or are ya just agitating things

We a get a chance to change things

Another chance to make it right

Only you can make that choice

So are you gonna choose death or will you choose life?

Being an Effective Light

Image Credit: Lighthouse © Jongenz via freeimages.com

The red light pierced through the darkness. As I squinted in the dark, the rays beamed out on either side.

That seemingly minute light got brighter. This reminded me of the people I see on the street.  Before we get born again, we are a lost soul in a world filled with darkness. The chaos and unsettling in our soul is evident with every step. Every day is just something to get through. No hope. No. joy. No peace in our life.

When we make the decision to have the Lord rule over our lives, that dull light became something greater than imagined. How? The Holy Spirit came to dwell in us, teach us, and guide us through life! We begin to see a much bigger picture. It's no longer just about us anymore.  The Body of Christ encircles this person because we are all family. We work together to bring light to the people around us.  When our light isn't effective, we need to surround ourselves with people who are. Sooner or later, the fire than burns from deep within them will burn in us.

Are we impacting those around us in a positive way? I don't know about you, but recently, one of my goals is to become even more focused on God. It's so easy to get weighed down by the cares of this life. I am examining my life and asking God to show me the weak areas. Those areas that may not have His light shining on them at all. Help me, God, to be a more effective light for you.