God Lives Under The Bed
I envy Kevin.
My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped outside his closed door to listen. "Are you there, God?" he said."Where are you?Oh, I see. Under the bed."I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that nightsomething else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentallydisabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is anadult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old,and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our treeevery Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carrythem. I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different, dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop forthe disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme are laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores. And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn'tknow what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always beenmet, and he never worries that one day they may not be.His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart iscompletely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and hedoes not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt,angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Himin a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willingto admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with thehandicap - I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - theyall become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care. Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all!
Prayer is powerful. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but alot of rewards. What u sow is wat u reap @ the end of the day! Want to encourage those who r still working, live a life of simplicity in Christ...Be wise as a serpent & gentle as a dove...operating in HIs manifold wisdom & understanding, God will keeps us from falling. As for those who r stil studying, keep your focus on Christ (gird up the loins of ur mind!), begin 2 cultivate a lifestyle of prayer life , never stop praying! God hears U...Wherever u r @ tis point of ur life....u've got discipline urself despite the fact we r busy wif our own stuff, i can say it's not easy in the beginning but as u get started 2 pay the price, u will adapt 2 the"new" lifestyle....personally, i failed many times yet His grace is sufficient 4 us 2 overcome.....keep trying & trying, dun give up! the day will come u realize i've hav overcome in tis area of my life.........THE DAY OF BREAKTHROUGH COMES ALREADY.... : ) REMEMBER U'RE NOT ALONE BUT HIS SPIRIT IS LIVING WITHIN U... REJOICE! :>
posted by may : ) @ 12:50 PM
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