One in Seven

by Nancy Tichy, Author for KidZ at Heart International

One of my delights in life these days comes from reading reports sent out by international workers who are serving in locations that would have been on my ‘bucket list’ to visit when I was younger. One example is a newsletter from a longtime friend investing her life in India. Currently finishing a master’s degree to work with folks who have disabilities, she plans to return soon to the land where she has already spent much of her adult life.

One interesting point she makes – it’s estimated that one in every seven people has some kind of disability, either present at birth or developed afterwards. One in seven! She also shared an opportunity to speak to a group of children about this topic. That caught my attention. Here’s what she wrote:

On Sunday I spoke about disabilities to a group of children. I told them about the paralyzed man whose friends put him down through the roof to meet Jesus (Luke 5:18-25). While the main point of the account is who Jesus is, we can also make some observations about disabilities. The paralyzed man had three needs:

1. Practical help.The man needed help getting places because he could not walk on his own. Everyone needs help sometimes, but someone with a disability may have difficulty with daily life activities (like walking) that most people can do independently.
2. Forgiveness of sin.Others may have thought that the man’s biggest problem was not being able to walk. However, Jesus knew that his biggest problem was sin, for sin kept the man separated from God. Sin is everyone’s biggest problem! Jesus not only noticed this problem, He also solved it.
3. We might not notice this need because in the account it is already met. The man needed friends. We all do! It was the man’s friends who knew about his problems, and it was his friends who were willing to overcome obstacles so that the man could meet Jesus. 

Depending on the age and maturity of the children we work with, we can weave into our ministry or family life this three-pronged outreach to those God brings our way with disabilities.

Even a young child can ask,

1. Is there something I can do or make that helps?
2. Is there some way I can show how to connect with Jesus?
3. Is there some way I can show I’d like to be a friend?

For instance, a homemade card that includes a favorite Bible verse delivered in person (where this is possible and appropriate) fulfills all three points above, not that all three can be or need be achieved every time.

We might post three questions in a prominent place and refer to them every time a person with disabilities or someone in need comes to the children’s attention.

1. How can I help?
2. How can I share Jesus’ love?
3. Can I be a friend?

One summer I worked with some children every Sunday during adult service. One of our group was stricken with a serious illness and could not attend. The child was known to everyone and concern for her ran high. One Sunday we stretched out some banner paper and gave everyone present that Sunday a space to draw and color a picture and write a message. When it was as finished as we could make it we rolled it up and sent it. We took up a collection and with additions from adults sent a gift card the child could use to order a book, game, or item of choice.  Every Sunday we met we prayed for her.

Opportunities to Serve

• With holidays approaching, and hopefully as part of an adult outreach already in progress, children can be motivated and prepared to visit the elderly. They can make tray favors, practice to sing Gospel music together and even fan out to visit with individual residents. Older youth have even been known to lead someone they stopped to visit with to faith in Jesus.

• Children can be encouraged to find ways to personally earn money to contribute to a group project or organization that provides for the disabled. One example is Joni and Friends that specializes in sending wheelchairs around the world to help meet the needs of children and adults. Someone known to the children through church contacts can provide this kind of focus and opportunity as well.

• Consider an extended time to draw attention to ways we express love for another (with a disability, in this case) that both helps deepen our own love for Jesus and enables us to expend ourselves by loving someone who is physically impaired or has lingering health challenges or emotional needs.

• Encourage children to think of someone they know or are aware of, who has a disability. Set aside time for them to ask God how to pray for the person asking what he might have them do to serve the disabled. As teachers/parents, we rarely make time for children to approach God in this manner, yet God clearly shows us in his word that serving others is his desire. (Philippians 2:4)

The Bible is full of examples of how someone reached out and made a difference in the life of a disabled person.  Remember the unnamed slave girl who shared information with her mistress that eventually led to someone stricken with an incurable, shame-laden disease finding cleansed health?  What an amazing act of love!

May our children find opportunities to deepen their own love for Jesus as they reach out to others in need and share that love freely.