Life, strength, gifts

One of my struggles in life is where to allocate our resources for the most impact.  I have some kids who are good at many things.  They are good students, good athletes, they are good with people and things tend to come very easily to them.  I have others that struggle in certain areas, some have health issues, some are not strong readers, some aren't super coordinated, some have trouble being around people.  I need to challenge the kids that need more, and still be able to give extra attention to the kids that need more help.  And beyond that there are those outside our family that we can be reaching out to as well.

What is clear to me is that God is on the side of those that need more help.  The strong have a tendency to think they don't need God.  They are inclined to think that all of their gifts they somehow made on their own.  The weak know that they can't achieve much on their own.  They are more inclined to look for something outside of themselves to help them improve their lives.   They are more willing to say, "God made me, and all I have is from him."  God brings glory to himself through doing mighty things through ordinary people.

I know that it is very easy for me cheer on those that have children with physical disabilities.  I know intellectually that what they are doing is very difficult.  They are needed each and every day to help with things that they wish their children could do for themselves.  I am not in their shoes, and I don't want to make any claims that I know what they endure each and every day.  What I can say is that they are my heroes.  My friends that have dedicated their lives to caring for their children who will always need their daily care inspire me.  I see them as normal families, with a beauty that brings tears to my eyes.  I love to see them just living life as if there is nothing exceptional about them.  If I could give out grammies, they would be the recipients.  I also know that they don't think of themselves as heroes at all.

The question that keeps coming up at our house is what is life worth?  We have chosen to have a lot of lives under our roof.  I think they are all priceless.  Some cost us more than others, but I don't ever do my accounting like that.  I have asked myself what I would pay to keep myself alive if I were ever faced with that choice.  What it seems to boil down to is this: There is no price tag that can ever be put on a life.  Every life is priceless.  God made you.  He gives the precious gift of life very generously.   We need eyes to see the preciousness of each person and give our lives to help all those God brings to us.  I ask my strong children to give their strength to help the ones that need help.  I remind them that their gifts are just that, gifts.  They are to be given to others, not flaunted for their own glory.  They are not worth more than their weaker brother, they become stronger by lifting up those around them.

I pray that I keep this in the front of my mind today.  I have sick ones to care for.  I have readers that need to read to me.  I have many mouths to feed.  Thanks be to God that He values each of us and gives us the strength we need for this day.  I will keep my eyes open for those who need an extra hand.