You may be taking care of your elderly mother, or a child with a disability. Whatever the case that disabled loved one reveals your character.
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SHAUNA: Did you know it’s National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month? Hi, I’m Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope, and today Joni has a Good Samaritan story involving her friend Beverly.
JONI: My friend Beverly has MS. The irony of it is that Beverly used to serve as a nurse on a hospital floor dedicated to people with neuromuscular disorders. Most of Beverly’s patients back then had multiple sclerosis. So, when Beverly began feeling numbness in her hands, and weakness in her legs, she had an inkling it might be MS. And when she received the confirmation after her exam that, indeed, she was in the early stages of multiple sclerosis, my friend took a deep breath and asked God for courage. Because she knew the long, difficult road that was ahead of her. She knew she needed not only courage, she needed help.
That was many years ago, and for the most part, Beverly has handled her disabling condition very well — all that, after losing her job, and losing her ability to walk. But if you were to ask Bev, she would say that her friends have made the most difference in her life. For years, two of her friends have helped her with shopping, taken her to appointments, assisted in keeping her little apartment up to speed, and, overall, have just provided true companionship. They have been her advocates; helping her with problems with Medicare. In Beverly’s eyes, these two, precious friends are her good Samaritans. She told me, “Joni, other people can talk about character, but my two girlfriends write the book on character, as far as I’m concerned.” Exactly what does she mean by that?
Well, in the story of the Good Samaritan, we all know about the roles played by the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. But we don’t often consider the role of the broken man wounded by the side of the road. What about his role? Was he just the focus of an object lesson? Was the hurting man by the side of the road in the story only to evoke pity? Well, I believe his role is, perhaps, the most significant in that story — because the man by the side of the road revealed the true character of the priest, the Levite, and the man from Samaria. The character of the priest and the character of the Levi left much to be desired — they not only ignored the wounded man, they walked right past his need. But the wounded man by the road revealed the caring and compassionate character of the good Samaritan. And the same is true for people like Beverly, people with disabilities — in a church, they reveal so much about the character of their fellow churchgoing friends. Will you be compassionate? Or will you walk by them, assuming that someone else will care? First Corinthians 12 says that disabled people are indispensable to the body. And maybe that’s so because of what they reveal about us.
So, I want to take this opportunity to thank people like Beverly’s friends. You may be a caregiver to your husband, recovering after a stroke. You may be taking care of your elderly mother, or a child with a disability. Whatever the case that disabled loved one reveals your character. And it is character that provides the most powerful witness, the best testimony, always showcasing to others the grace and compassion of the Lord Jesus. It’s what Beverly would tell you if you asked her.
SHAUNA: Finally, friend, take a moment to visit us at joniradio.org. With all of Joni’s messages there at your fingertips, it’s a great place to start if you want to cultivate the character of Christ. And while you’re there, be sure to leave us your prayer request. God bless you today friend and thanks for listening to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope.
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