Mark Twain once said, “Courage in not the absence of fear. It is acting in the face of fear.”
When it comes to disabilities, especially the newly injured, fear is definitely a factor in the way people behave. It’s not just the fear of the unknown, it’s also the fear of perception – how will and what will others, my friends, my family and people I meet feel about me? Those born with disabilities often grow up knowing that there’s something “different” about them and often adjust very well because it’s all they have ever know. Yet still, there’s a yearning to be like everyone else.
People as a whole cannot take away disabilities, only God can do that. Yet there are things we can do to make people more comfortable with their various situations. Luke 6:31 says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you (NIV).” This is so true. And, if just for a moment we could put ourselves in the position of the disabled, I think we would have a whole new perspective on how we treat them. This is not to say we are doing something bad – just that things could be better.
Think about how you act and talk when around people with disabilities. Do you talk to them like they are a little child – a high pitched voice and looking as though you are coaxing a smile from a baby? Or totally the opposite –you ignore them and speak to people accompanying them?
There’s always room for improvement in everyone. Think about this and practice Luke 6:31. People with disabilities desire and moreover deserve to be treated like everyone else. Doing this will help mainstream them into a community where everyone feels equal.
Common courtesy, common sense, and respect; three things we all have a right to.
