Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Celebrating the difference in God’s Creation: Celebrating individuals and communities with special skills

 
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 
 
v1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
 

We all come into this world with different skills. Some of us will have the opportunity to sharpen some skills and others of us may have the passion to sharpen these God-given skills, and yet the opportunities may not be there. While others of us will have a few chances at sharpening our skills, we will neglect such opportunities, out of fear, anger, frustration, or etc.
 
As a church and as a community of believers, what is our role in helping one another in developing each other’s skills? Do we judge? Do we give our sympathies? Do we turn away and look to our own needs? How do we show love to those with different needs and different skill sets? Can we challenge ourselves in being uncomfortable and extending ourselves in a way so that we can comfort and sharpen the skills of others? Can we love others in a way that exemplifies God’s infinite love that surpasses boundaries and expectations? Can we give our time, our money, or our resources to provide opportunities to our children and adults with special skills?
 
These are questions we must answer for ourselves and questions we should hold one another accountable to.

PRAYER
Abba, help us to appreciate, to celebrate and to love our children and adults with special needs. Guide us and provide us with the mercy and grace we need to learn on how to best love and serve one another. Now as we come before you, we simply ask you provide us with the wisdom, love and grace we need for one another. Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Life does not need to be perfect for it to be wonderful”
 
Dr. Sherine S. Thomas, Long Island MTC
 Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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