Different Abilities

The first year of living with MG was foggy. It is frustrating to know things and not be able to recall them or to express what I wanted to say. It is also such a challenge when others think that I am mentally challenged because of my speech or because I didn't talk. A couple of years ago someone asked my son if I was "able to talk in complete sentences". Todd was so mad. I am not sure how he responded to the question but he still talks about that question a lot. A parent of one of my students had CP. Her speech was very garbled and difficult to understand. She frequently came to my office for help with her children who went to my school. Karen and I had a conference with her one day and had to tell her some tough news about her son. We spent a great deal of time listening to her. She struggled to say what she wanted to say but managed to tell us that we made her feel respected. She explained that people would often disregard what she said or ignore her completely because of her disability and her difficulty with speaking. I feel sad that there is so much misunderstanding of people with different abilities and challenges. Living with MG has given me first hand experience with being treated differently. I may not be able to do many of the things that I could do before MG came to live with me. God has given me different abilities. I am learning that I am valuable to Him in a different way now.

I am grateful that God tells us He looks at what is on the inside and not on the outside. I am grateful that He knows our hearts and loves us in spite of our shortcomings. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7