The colourful little sticker says :
“Casual Day Celebrate Diversity with Persons with Disabilities”
The purpose of the sticker serves as a motivation for the South African
public to be aware of those with disabilities, and the many kind-hearted charities that work hard to ease the life of those who know and live with disabilities.
So on the first day of September you will be excused for wearing your “takkies” to work, as long as you display the sticker you bought to support those Disabled among us. A lovely fun gesture, that knits community together.
I remember watching the TV broadcast on the Para Olympic Games held in London in 2012. Among the nations of the world there is none that can hold pageantry like the English. It was a magnificent display of courage and of hope to see those with Disabilities reach for their dreams.
Hope is intrinsic to human beings. God has designed us that way. He has built into each one of us faith hope and love. And when life happens, to some harshly, to others not so much, and when things don’t work out the way we had planned , we are still left with hope. There is always hope, that helps us to carry on regardless. And this is what we are given by those with Disabilities. They are hope-carriers.
They are a very costly gift to humanity.
Observing those with disabilities brings us to the threshold of suffering, and the age-old question arises “why does a good, loving God allow suffering ?”
Just for today, I hope we can pause, and remember those with Disabilities in our own families, in our communities, see them through new eyes, and be a little kinder to them.
The following little writing was sent to me, and I am passing it on to you. Unfortunately I cannot acknowledge the writer as I do not have a name. When I read it, it brought to me a smile and a tear, all at the same time….. and perhaps too a little more understanding.
GOD SAID NO !
I asked God to take away my habit,
God said, No it is not for Me to take it away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole
God said, No his spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
God said, No patience is the by-product of tribulations, it isn’t granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness,
God said, No, suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
God said, No you must grow your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me.
God said, Ahh, finally you have the idea.
This day is yours, don’t throw it away.
God bless you.
CareSA 