God lives under the bed

[Guest guest]

Prob been sent, but saw this ( shhh I am supposed to be packing ) and

thought I Would share

*_GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED_*

Written by Adkins

I envy . 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 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 those 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 is 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

speculates 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 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 been met, and he never worries that one day they may

not be.

His hands are diligent. is never as 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!

--

Aussie Leis- mum to nearly 12, Natasha 7 , 6 and Liliana

17 months

Life is too short for drama & petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love

truly and forgive quickly