This Life

I left the shop smiling at the lovely day and the people I met. Un­expectedly, a woman I had never seen before spoke to me. She told me that she has a serious illness, and the doctors are proposing to amputate her arm. The woman cried, ‘I can’t live without my arm! Is that really life?’

I empathised with her and smiled inside. When I was an infant, I fell ill with polio. Now my legs are so weak that I must use crutches to walk. I think this is why the woman approached me. I asked her if she thought my life had no value.

Until that moment, I simply accepted my body as it is. I live and rejoice in my life. But I never thought that God could use my dis­ability as a way to help others. After we had talked, the woman calmed down and I was encouraged. I realised that though I don’t have a perfect body, God gave me optimism and joy. I believe my Creator wants me to use those gifts to console those who are discouraged or in despair.

Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, for using us to bring your love to those who especially need it. Amen