We all have our moments where we like to complain that we're tired, frustrated, and stressed out. I'm certainly guilty of this myself. In today's fast-paced society, it's easy to get caught up in the assumed urgency of our own concerns. This inevitably leads to feeling defeated because we can't accomplish everything we want to accomplish as quickly as we'd like to.
That's when I need to take a step back and realize what Josie teaches me. In Josie's world, that fast-paced sense of urgency does not exist. It cannot exist. Josie requires more time to attain skills and accomplish tasks that we take for granted.
Josie's disability does not mean that she can't do things that other people do, it just means that it's going to take her longer to get there.
And those things that come naturally to those of us without disabilities, are things that Josie has to put forth a great deal of time and energy to learn.
It's a slow process; one that requires an enormous amount of work on her part.
But in time, she'll get there.
Seeing her work this hard, for this long, makes me incredibly proud, extremely grateful, and deeply humbled. The fortitude I've witnessed from this child truly highlights how much I take for granted. And when I take a step back and reflect on her journey, I realize how much I can learn from her.
Let's add it up: an unwavering perseverance + a positive attitude in the face of challenges that the rest of us could never relate to + the composure to avoid toxic comparisons + a grace to ignore the inequities = pure admiration
I know God purposefully creates people with disabilities. These people have an ability to impart extraordinary wisdom upon the rest of us. And if we take away a fraction of what these individuals have to offer, we are undeniably better for it.
