Verse of the Day - Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
~ Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

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The other day as I drove home, I saw a couple of adults walking down the street, hand in hand. As I got closer, I saw that one of them had Downs Syndrome, and perhaps the other person was their Mom. And I began to think about how we "normal" people treat the handicapped. We are kind to them in the grocery store or school or mall -- we want to make sure they feel accepted and loved. We feel as if they need to be shown love more than others, right? I mean, they look different, they act different, they talk different. But we understand there is a reason they are different than us -- something they have no control over. And so we treat them with extra care and attention.

But what about the person who looks different, acts different, talks different who doesn't have a disability or handicap? What about that nerdy guy who wears mismatched clothes and snorts when he laughs up in Accounting? Or that girl in class who doesn't look like she's washed her hair in two weeks and acts so goofy, you can't help but laugh at her out loud? What about them?!? Why do we dole out kindness and love based on our worth-o-meter?

God's worth-o-meter spikes 'red' for EVERY SINGLE PERSON! They might be black, white or purple. They may be nerdy, fashion-challenged or in need of a shower. They maybe handicapped, or they may not be. But God loves all people, and He calls His children to do the same. To make judgment calls as to who deserves kindness and special attention and who doesn't is not our call at all!

All people deserve kindness and special attention. A smile. A "How are you today?" A "Can I help you?" I pray we can open our eyes today and see people the way God sees them -- 100% valuable and deserving of love.

Love,
Joelene