Joseph

Joseph is 18, has intellectual disabilities, and has virtually nothing by the world’s standards. He has a Mom who loves him, a 5 ft x 7 ft home, yet no schooling, no books, no therapies, no wheelchair, no way to do anything for himself, and yet, was so happy. He was happy to meet us, happy to have us visit, and very upset when we left him. It is complicated. He needs to see a doctor. He needs a way to get to the doctor, and to get around in general. His Mom is getting older, and has trouble lifting him. He is incontinent, and sits in the dirt all day. He needs some diapers. He needs medicine. It was humbling to realize how little we could do for him, and yet how much God cares for him. How much his plight is known by our Lord and Savior, and how His strengths and weaknesses are all a part of God’s plan, for Joseph, for us, for his Mom, and for all who know him. His bright smile was a joy. Wishing there was more we could do for his Mom and him was frustrating, yet after reading Amy Carmichael’s writings for my devotional time this week, very apropos. She talks so clearly about our sufferings drawing us to Christ, as we learn to be more like Him, as we trust, and endure and look to the hope of Heaven, where all who are like Joseph will be made new. I can’t wait to see what Heaven is like, when those who are called, who had intellectual disabilities in this life will be perfected, and what that will be like.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” 2 Cor. 1:3-7

“But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10