April 4, 2012          From a dear friend in UK:  Hazel of Old Windsor         Hazel's previous article

A Mirror of God's Love

Dear John

We were visited by our middle son over the weekend who has recently become engaged to a very nice young lady who has a severely disabled seven-year old son. He is blind with slight vision in one eye, cannot talk, walk or even stand on his own and his sensory perception is not as good as in a normal child. Last summer he had a big operation to try and improve the load bearing of his pelvis to help him stand.

It is quite remarkable to see how devoted they both are to this young boy. Every moment they are watching him, listening to his cries to discern what he needs or wants. He doesn't sleep well, so in addition to full-on day care, nights can be difficult too. Nevertheless the love on this young woman's face as she struggles to understand what her son is asking for is amazing. Neither of them seem to lose their patience even when he's at his most difficult - and she's been doing this more or less on her own for seven years. Now our son is there beside her, helping and loving him too.

She has a carer who lives near who will come in during the day when needed and who will take him away to her own house for the odd night's respite and he goes to a special needs school.

It seems to me that the love they are showering on this disabled boy must be a mirror to that love the Good Lord showers on us. He is always there for us offering his unconditional love. We need only to reach out as best we can and he will pour out his love on us whatever and whenever we need him. We have only to ask!

Every blessing

Hazel