Power Grid Blog
Beatitudes for Friends and Family
November 22, 2012 | Ginny Thornburgh
During this Thanksgiving week, I am drawn to a prayer that is often used at Religion and Disability conferences. The author is unknown.
"Beatitudes for Friends and Family"
Blessed are you who take time to listen to difficult speech, for you help us persevere until we are understood.
Blessed are you who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers, for we find havens of relaxation in your companionship.
Blessed are you who never bid us to "hurry up", and more blessed are you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us, for often we need time - rather than help.
Blessed are you who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures, for the delight we feel when we surprise you outweighs all the frustrating failures.
Blessed are you who ask for our help, for our greatest need is to be needed.
I will never forget a conversation I had with my beloved mother when she was 92 years old. At that point in her life she had a series of disabilities including poor hearing, poor vision, an unsteady gait and incontinence. One day I asked her: "Mom, what is your most difficult disability?" She thought for a moment and then answered in a strong voice: "No longer feeling useful."
May we work to create a world where all are valued, all are enjoyed, and all are given opportunities to be useful.
Comments
Submitted by Grant at 08:13 PM on November 27, 2012