Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Matthew 10:40
The gathering for parents and caregivers of children and/ or adults with disabilities was a great success. Thank you Chris, Christina, and Longwood Baptist church for hosting the event. We meet on the third Monday of every month. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
I have been part of a number of support groups and there are a number of aspects about them that I like.
The one aspect I like the most is when a new person joins a "parents of children with disability support group". Often the parent has not had anyone to talk to. Parents coping with disability issues often can only relate to other parents in the same situation. It's inspiring to hear the parents story. Often he/she appears to be shedding the weight of thousand trials as his story is pored out in conversation. The look of relief on a persons face when someone listens and hears about her life illistrates God's love in the world.
Listening actively says to the speaker: You matter, your child matters, your family matters. The world may not think so but we are not the world. We are the Church. Each and every one of us have been created in God's image and he loves each and every one of us.
One of the most loving things we can do is listen. By listening we can affirm God's love.
Peace and Love,
Andrew
