“Mack, if anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again.” from The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
You Matter
Having worked in the field of disabilities all of my adult life, I’m drawn to situations when out and about. I actually have this pin that says “You make a difference” with an imprint of people holding hands in the background. We affect the lives around us.
Recently I was at the grocery store and heard a very familiar noise of a child with autism making buzzing sounds and his mom on an electric shopping cart calling for him to come back to her and he did. He was so playful, laughing as he went back to his mom. He does not speak verbally outside of making different noises. I kept shopping, smiling about the situation. Other people would stay away from them but I’m always drawn to such a situation. I was in an electric cart as well, and I met up with them in another aisle. D’Angelo was rocking, smiling and dancing away from his mom. Again she called out to him in a loving but stern manner. I rolled up to her and said “He’s a handful, huh?” She said yes, but she spoke lovingly of his energy and zest for life! I told her I was “in the field” and she asked what I did. She talked about the need for him to receive more services and I suggested options. It was a wonderful conversation as we talked about D’Angelo and with that, he actually came over, smiling all the while, loving up to his mom and he seemed to be listening to our conversation. I spoke with him as well, saying mom was telling all his secrets and we laughed. I was safe to him because his mom accepted me. He knew he could be comfortable with me. This doesn’t always happen with autistic children.
As we were ending our talk, that mom had such a warm look when she expressed her gratitude for stopping to share with her. I wished her well and told D’Angelo I’d see him again when shopping at this store. He giggled and smiled. What a cutie pie!
We are in this world for a purpose. One of mine is reaching out to those with developmental disabilities. Due to my current physical limitations I have not been able to work the way I would like. But God places these situations in my travels in other ways.i am so thankful. Not only am I able to touch those people’s lives, but they certainly touch mine! God provides opportunities where I can still use my gifts, skills and talents! This takes me back to my pin that states “You make a difference”. Yes, our lives do make a difference within this universe. Not only do we affect lives but are affected by the situations as well.