This blog is the final part of a series of 15 lessons based on the book, "Lessons from the Geese"
by Dr. Robert McNeish.
by Dr. Robert McNeish.
A homemade card. I have a lot of handmade cards in my keepsake box, but one I cherish. Even though the creator of the card has Down syndrome, she responds when asked what her disability is, that she has a bad hand. That is true. The fingers on her left hand did not form and are just little nubs. The front of the card says, “Friends Forever”. Beneath the words she traced her hand and wrote in it “Lacey’s special hand for you.” While the messages inside encourages me not to worry and be happy, it is the artist giving me a pledge of friendship confirmed by her “bad” hand that I will never forget.
A funny story. Rachel is from Virginia. From the first time we met, we liked each other. Once when I stayed at their house, Rachel had the responsibility of being my hostess. Upon my arrival, she guided me to my room, showed me where the light switches were, showed me how to open the closet door, and gave several other directives. We crossed the hall to the bathroom. She pointed out my towels, my soap, and my toothpaste. Then she showed me the commode and added a reminder, “Don’t forget to flush!” I remember with pride when Rachel participated in the National Special Olympics.
The right word. Lee is a friendly, good-looking man with an intellectual disability. In spite of rapid speech, poor syntax, and poor articulation, he communicates clearly. My wife and I were at his facility for an annual party we hosted. The staff told the residents that my mother was not doing well and that my sisters and I were arranging to place our parents in an assisted living program. While I enjoyed the party, my heart was heavy.
After the party, Lee and I took the trash to the dumpster. He was uncommonly quiet. After a bit he said, “You me buddy. Me sorry about your mom. Me pray real loud before me go to bed and at Sunday school. Jesus make her better. Me tell God not let you heart hurt too much.” A few months later when I drove my parents from the house they had lived in for sixty-six years, I remembered Lee’s words and my heart didn’t hurt.
A solo. Joe is a bright, friendly young man. Except for thick glasses and his cane, the casual observer might not notice that anything was wrong. Even so, he has serious vision problems. Simply put, if he is in bright light, he is for all practical purposes blind. He takes dance lessons. He does well in school. He sings in our children’s choir at church. At a concert, he walked up to the mike and belted out a song that left me awe-struck. What a gift! The bright spot light rendered him blind. Yet, he sang and danced like the other choir members—he did it from memory. What a kid! (See “Be blessed by their stories”)
A name plate. I have a needlepoint name plate on my desk that was made for me over 25 years ago by Dory, my printer friend in “See the real person”. The memories of a person with grace, courage, and purpose give me a lot of inspiration.
A special book. Helen, my friend with 26 fruit baskets, was a Christian because a teacher told her about Jesus using pictures of the life of Christ that she had drawn. Knowing that Helen couldn’t read, this creative teacher drew the lessons. Shortly after Helen’s death, her mother gave me the construction paper/crayon book, “My Jesus Book.” It will always be a treasure.
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