Tuesday, August 5, 20124

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Acts 3:1 – 11

“And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”

I’ve struggled with the Bible’s healing stories in my adult life, but my reasons for doing so have changed over the years. Before, I struggled thinking I had to take them literally. Now, I struggle realizing I have to live them seriously. Could we live out the stories today? Could we bring healing to all those around us who need it most?

I’m working this summer in the administrative office of a preschool, and I recently learned the remarkable story of one of their students. When Brian* came to the agency at 16 months, he could not sit up, walk, vocalize or even eat. He was still drinking milk from a bottle. The mother, a recent immigrant, was deeply embarrassed, but didn’t know what to do. The doctor had told her to be patient and wait. The teachers, however, advised her to be patient and act. They knew that early interventions were necessary and helpful.

His teachers are dedicated. Every day, they massaged Brian’s legs. They held him up with a scarf wrapped around his torso so his legs would strengthen and he could gain his balance. They taught him how to hold a spoon, how to eat solid food. Early intervention therapists visited him three times a week to work on his speech and his motor and social skills.

Now, a year and a half later, at age three, he can walk on his own. Just this morning, I saw him running away from his therapist. He’s learning to speak and can say a few simple words.

            To some perhaps, Brian’s story is not that remarkable. Ask Brian’s mother: she is overwhelmed by his progress. His teachers, who often faced days of discouragement, wondering if their school was the right place for him, are proud of his growth. His therapists admit they’ve been educated by the persistence of Brian’s teachers.

Brian’s story and the story from Acts give me a vision of what the world could be like. When a whole community of people motivated by love decides they are going to surround those most vulnerable and raise them up, then the gospel is being lived.

  

-David Shumaker

*I’ve changed his name.