Perfectly Imperfect
I have the incredible privilege in my day job of working with some of the most amazing people on the planet. For the last 11-plus years I have worked as a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP). Basically, this means I provide social services and assistance to adults with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, seizure disorders, autism, etc. I truly believe I have one of the greatest jobs in the world because it allows me to help awesome people become even more awesome and live their lives to the fullest extent possible.
When I meet new people, and they ask me what I do for a living, I very often hear in response remarks such as "you must be so patient to do a job like that" or "it takes a very special person to do what you do." Maybe God has gifted me with patience, but I would argue that I am blessed with the gift of this job. Everyday is different, and yes, there are occasions when in this job I have seen human beings at their worst, people who have intentionally harmed others in terrible ways just for being different. People who look down on the special clients I get to work with because they see those clients as less than rather than taking the time to get to know them as the unique and talented individuals they are. More often than not though, I get to see some of the best of humanity in those I serve, and I receive far more from my clients than I could ever hope to give them.
In John chapter 9, while walking with his disciples, Jesus comes across a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples then ask Jesus, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sin or his parents sins?" (vs. 2) I feel like this is a fairly common question the disciples asked. Even now I hear it in person or see it on social media. A baby is born with Down Syndrome, and family members question why. A loving mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer and friends ask why a loving God lets such a terrible thing happen to such a good person. A child dies in an accident, and we look for someone to blame.
I think the answer Jesus gave his disciples that day about the blind man still holds true today for these situations as well as for those like the clients I serve. "'It was not because of his sins or his parents sins,' Jesus answered. 'This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.'" (vs. 3) Paul expounds on this idea further in 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."
In my job I see regularly how God's grace and love and power are displayed regularly through the "weakness" of those I serve. I've seen my clients rise above the expectations others have set for them all their life to accomplish feats the world told them they could never do. I see them sacrificially not only help each other or gift each other but also me in simple things such as sharing cupcakes on a birthday, holding the door open for another, sending a card, praying for a friend, giving a hug to someone who appears sad. I've seen these giving individuals donate their time and talents for charities. They teach me daily about the childlike faith and unbridled joy God calls us all to have. They help me to see beauty in the world I might otherwise miss because of their unique perspectives. They are an example to me of being wholly who God created me to be without worrying about what others may think.
They also daily remind me that no matter how different someone may appear to be, deep down we have so much more in common. We all go through struggles and hardships, and we all have joys and accomplishments to celebrate. We all have fears and worries as well as hopes and dreams, and often those fears and hopes are nearly identical in nature. We all want to be loved. We all have talents and gifts to share with the world, and we all have faults and weaknesses and areas in which we struggle. We are all designed in God's image, and we have each been lovingly and uniquely crafted by His hands. Because He purposefully and individually created each of us, no matter how imperfect we may be, we are each perfectly imperfect... a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by the ultimate Artist.
When I meet new people, and they ask me what I do for a living, I very often hear in response remarks such as "you must be so patient to do a job like that" or "it takes a very special person to do what you do." Maybe God has gifted me with patience, but I would argue that I am blessed with the gift of this job. Everyday is different, and yes, there are occasions when in this job I have seen human beings at their worst, people who have intentionally harmed others in terrible ways just for being different. People who look down on the special clients I get to work with because they see those clients as less than rather than taking the time to get to know them as the unique and talented individuals they are. More often than not though, I get to see some of the best of humanity in those I serve, and I receive far more from my clients than I could ever hope to give them.
In John chapter 9, while walking with his disciples, Jesus comes across a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples then ask Jesus, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sin or his parents sins?" (vs. 2) I feel like this is a fairly common question the disciples asked. Even now I hear it in person or see it on social media. A baby is born with Down Syndrome, and family members question why. A loving mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer and friends ask why a loving God lets such a terrible thing happen to such a good person. A child dies in an accident, and we look for someone to blame.
I think the answer Jesus gave his disciples that day about the blind man still holds true today for these situations as well as for those like the clients I serve. "'It was not because of his sins or his parents sins,' Jesus answered. 'This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.'" (vs. 3) Paul expounds on this idea further in 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."
In my job I see regularly how God's grace and love and power are displayed regularly through the "weakness" of those I serve. I've seen my clients rise above the expectations others have set for them all their life to accomplish feats the world told them they could never do. I see them sacrificially not only help each other or gift each other but also me in simple things such as sharing cupcakes on a birthday, holding the door open for another, sending a card, praying for a friend, giving a hug to someone who appears sad. I've seen these giving individuals donate their time and talents for charities. They teach me daily about the childlike faith and unbridled joy God calls us all to have. They help me to see beauty in the world I might otherwise miss because of their unique perspectives. They are an example to me of being wholly who God created me to be without worrying about what others may think.
They also daily remind me that no matter how different someone may appear to be, deep down we have so much more in common. We all go through struggles and hardships, and we all have joys and accomplishments to celebrate. We all have fears and worries as well as hopes and dreams, and often those fears and hopes are nearly identical in nature. We all want to be loved. We all have talents and gifts to share with the world, and we all have faults and weaknesses and areas in which we struggle. We are all designed in God's image, and we have each been lovingly and uniquely crafted by His hands. Because He purposefully and individually created each of us, no matter how imperfect we may be, we are each perfectly imperfect... a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by the ultimate Artist.
"You made all the delicate inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous -- how well I know it."
Psalm 139:13-14
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