“Care about others as much as you care about yourself."
~ Philippians 2:4
“I’d never consider suicide,” his
friend Tonya insisted as they discussed the issue of euthanasia. “Not unless I was in a wheelchair or
something.” It suddenly dawned on her
that Josh was in a wheelchair, and that wasn’t the most sensitive comment she
could’ve made. “Oh my God, Josh!” she
exclaimed. “I didn’t mean . . . I mean –
you do know I didn’t mean you should consider killing yourself!”
He laughed a little.
On one hand, it’s funny how close friends sometimes forget that he’s in
one. It’s good to be treated just like
everyone else; he certainly wanted to be.
On the other hand, if you’re in a wheelchair you’re not like
everyone else. Sometimes you need help
and it can make life tricky if people who could help – don’t!
He’d considered giving up.
It got tiring pushing the wheels on his chair. Josh’s muscles just weren’t that strong
anymore. And it could be a pain trying
to get in or out of a wheelchair, especially when he misses and ends up on the
floor.
Today as Josh raced across campus, he wondered if it was
worth it. His last class was all the way
across campus and it took a minor miracle every day to get to his next class on
time. Friends had offered to push him,
but it seemed so humiliating. And he
needed the exercise anyway.
So he forged ahead amidst the icy, uneven and cracked
pavements that threatened his mobility, carefully navigating sidewalks crowded
with other students. As he approached
the Business school, his iPhone alarm sounded.
Late again!
He ‘wheeled” his way through students milling about in the
hallway outside the lecture hall. His
stomach tensed; he’d become accustomed to the stares for being late and holding
up the class. Josh didn’t blame those
who’d been waiting for feeling resentful.
Mercifully, the professor continued his lecture without
missing a verb.
Opening his notebook and preparing to take notes, Josh
noticed the kindly, faced coed sitting next to him in the front of the
class. They’d never spoken more than a
few words to each other. She handed him
a note which read:
“I noticed that you’re usually running late for class. If you’d like, I’d be happy to share my notes
with you so you don’t miss the first part of the lecture. It’s OK if you don’t need my help, I’ll
understand!” ~ Paige J.
And thus became a lifelong friendship. Don’t you wish more people had the ability to
read your mind and know when you need help?
Wouldn’t this world be so much better if you noticed when others needed
help, even when they don’t necessarily ask for it? Hmm!
Open the eyes our hearts, that we be more
aware of the opportunities to bless others in need. Move us beyond selfishness, help us to
share. All that we have is from You
Lord, may Your will be done in Jesus’ name.
Amen
