A Tribute To

[Guest guest]

Tribute to

> -Unknown Author-

>

>

> My brother 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. 's unique perspectives are often a source of

amusement.

>

> But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I

realized for the first time the very different world lives in.

>

> He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of

difficulties during labor.

>

> Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which

he is an adult 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 tree every Christmas,

and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

>

> I remember wondering if realizes he is different. Is he

ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to

work at a workshop for the 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 at 7:05,

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 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! " 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't know what it means to be discontented.

>

> His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of

wealth or power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what

kind of food he eats.

>

> His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one

day they may not be. His hands are diligent. is never so happy as when he

is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart

is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he

does not leave a job until it is finished.

>

> But, when his tasks are done, 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. 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. seems to know God - to really be friends with Him

in 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 has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most

willing to 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 the

handicap - I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all

become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

>

> Who knows if 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.

won't be surprised at all!

>

> When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do.

There is nothing attached. This is powerful. Just send this to four people

and do not break this, please.

>

> Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no

cost, but a lot of rewards. FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR

WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY.

>

> I truly enjoyed this one. Hope you did too.