Jesus Wept

I had a school aide when I was in elementary school, and each time I would cry she would say, "Tears are just a shower for your heart, cleaning your soul."  Back then, "showering your heart" in front of people was somewhat acceptable because I was young and "helpless"- because children c ry because they are supposedly helpless.  Now, when I cry my school aide says I need anti-anxiety meds.  Now I am not allowed to cry because I'm "too old".  And when I do, I am weak.
       I am not weak for crying.  Letting my emotions out is a healthy thing.  I am strong for being vulnerable and if my vulnerability intimidates you, then… I'm sorry.  My heart will always need a shower to keep my soul healthy and clean so that I can stay strong.
 
And do not presume I need meds when you don't know my story…

2 Peter 3:9New Living Translation (NLT)

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

Change Circle of Friends!

Dear Anonymous,
Circle of Friends is a club with a great concept, and a club that I would like to change instead of just being a part, sitting on the side lines.  "Inclusion" is a great idea if people would carry out what the word means.  We don't call it "inclusion" when African Americans attend our schools, or students who are in the LGBT community, or students with blonde hair and blue eyes; it is only called inclusion when students with disabilities attend schools.  Inclusion should be a historical word, just like segregation.
Circle of Friends is a club to "include", but it has created a feeling of "us" and "them".  it should be for all!  Where do my friends eat on the days when there is no CoF?  Are they kept in their classroom?  My friends should be with their friends, their peers.
A club entitled Circle of Friends should be about socializing and interacting, building new bonds that you can be with other times of the week and even life.  It should be about learning that everyone has differences and commonalities, and looking past that.  It should not be dead-set on commitment because once a true bond is made you will want to keep that knot tied.  
          Beautiful skills and friendships will be made if this is how you make your club.  As for now, I do not agree with the way things are being done.  So, I must resign from membership.

With thought,
Valerie   

Bending Rules

I hate being rude, or mean, or inconveniencing someone; that is not me.  I hate breaking rules.  I like to be a rule follower.  Sometimes rules can and should be bent, though. 

       Rules are like guidelines to stay inside of, which we have to be confined to in order to keep our jobs and be a well abiding citizen.  I admire that and for the most part we must "color inside the lines" to become successful and earn a living.  We must follow the law, but when you work for someone rules should be bent if necessary.  

        For instance, if the client is in distress and tells you what needs to be done, than I think you must do what needs to be done instead of coloring inside of the line.  It doesn't matter wethe the picture is neat, only that it is pretty.  Know when it is okay to bend the rules, otherwise follow them.  And always follow the rules of God!

Colossians 2:8New Living Translation (NLT)

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ.

John 8:31-32English Standard Version (ESV)

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Health

i am always praying for health and healing.  Try not to spread germś and keep yout immune system strong.  Some tips: wash your hands, eat or drink your vegetables and fruit, and take vitamins.  Staying hydràted is important too. 

       But, keeping your mind positive is also a big thing.  Of course, as I have mentioned, we are going to have down days, but staying positive and trying to not get stressed will help your physical well-being too.  Prayer helps all, as well!

   

1 Corinthians 6:19-20New Living Translation (NLT)

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Proverbs 17:22English Standard Version (ESV)

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Psalm 139:14English Standard Version (ESV)

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.

Be Angry and Do Not Sin

I'm not sure which is better; showing your anger or not…. 

       Have you ever felt that vibe that passive- aggressiveness gives off?  It's like, you feel anger but your not sure if it's just you because the person doesn't look angry.  You feel that you might have upset someone.  And when you're me that feeling doesn't help anything.  

       Please don't be passive-aggressive because I worry and care about you.  I am already anxious.  I am tired.  I am in pain.  And I am trying to give it ALL to God, because He gave me life on this earth an eternal.  He can carry my burden!

Proverbs 29:11English Standard Version (ESV)

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Ephesians 4:26-27English Standard Version (ESV)

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

Galatians 6:2English Standard Version (ESV)

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Psalm 55:22English Standard Version (ESV)

22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.

We Are Fragile Humans

Thank you to the people in my life who love, care, and worry about me.  Thank you to the people who pick me up off the floor -- literally and figuratively.  To the people who hug me and wipe the tears from my face.  I am fragile.  To the people I inspire and motivate, thank you for without you I would not be inspiring and I love, and care, and worry about all of you.  I will pick you up off of the literal and figurative floor.  I will wipe the tears from your face and hug you.  You are fragile.  We are all fragile. 

       I am not fragile because I am disabled; I am fragile because I am human.  We can not be strong minded, strong willed, and just plain strong all the time.  We must cry, be angry, get frustrated', feel sad.  We are all disabled in one way or another, and as unique humans with disabilities we come with emotions.  

       We are all fragile.  We must all have people who can wipe our tears.  Strength cannot be with us all the time, but God can!

       

2 Corinthians 5:17English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Psalm 23:1-6English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    forever.[g]

Revelation 1:8English Standard Version (ESV)

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Technology is a Friendly Helper

 Technology should be used to its full advantage.  We can keep our calendars on our phones, we can text and email and call.  We can read the Bible and all sorts of books from a platform where it is simple to enlarge text, change the spacing, change the contrast, and turn into audio.  I am greatful to live in a time of computers, iPads, iPhones, tablets, and Kindles.   When people say technology is a terrible invention that has created isolation, I agree with certain sides of the argument but I also see the sun from the opposite side.  With the invention of technology came the adaptive side which made typical, everyday duties a lot easier for individuals with disabilities.
       One of the most amazing pieces of adaptive technology by far is the computer professor Stephen Hawking uses to write and communicate.  Swiftkey and Intel teamed up with Stephen Hawking to design a computer that he powers with his one working cheek muscle to write and talk.  That is just one example; there are so many more adaptive technologies.  Just the accessibility features on Apple products are fabulous.
       If I hadn't been born in this day and age, this blog wouldn't exist.  The intelligence of many who have disabilities would probably go unnoticed.  Lives of many would be significantly more difficult

.  

Love Your Flocks

Woe flock towards people who treat us nicely, often duplicating the affection.  We flock towards people who like us, often liking them as well.  But that's how friendship works.  That is how bonds are made.  We often don't flock towards people who are different because they are different…

       Lately I've been feeling lie an outsider.  More mature than my peers and still physically a teenager.  I know more about where my spirituality is than most teens my age.  I have been through more medical thîngs.  Yet, I try to never judge because I do not know everyone's story. 

       Judging is what we as human beings do unintentionally.  We naturally have biases, but as good people we don't mean to offend, hurt, or judge. 

        We should flock towards the crowd, expand our horizons, and try to be social butterflies.  Treat others how you want to be treated.  There is a whole world of people we should love, so let's get on that. 

1 Peter 4:8New Living Translation (NLT)

8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

John 13:34-35English Standard Version (ESV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Proverbs 27:23English Standard Version (ESV)

23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and give attention to your herds,

Equal Rights

The world is corrupt.  Social justice system, equality, LGBT rights, religious right, m, etc, etc.…  Can we not just agree to disagree?

       Let me let you in on a little secret; the world will never be equal.  Our skin tones will always be different, our sexuality, our abilities and disabilities, and personally I don't think the world should be equal otherwise we are going to bring back Hitler.  A little diversity is good.  The thing that needs to be changed however is opportunity. 

       We should all have equal opportunities!  Did you know that a school fight in a poorer niehborhood"s school results in arrest?  Did you know that young people are tried as adults and prison population consists of African Americans and Mexicans?  Do you know parents are afraid to raise their children?

       It shouldn't matter the color of your skin, if your poor or rich, if you have a disability, we should all have equal opportunity.  We are all persons!

John 13:16New Living Translation (NLT)

16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.

Peter Singer on Killing Disabled Newborns

Peter Singer is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University.  In an April 16 radio interview Singer made the case that it is "ethical" to deny severely disabled newborns medical treatment during their first year of life.  He stated that through Obamacare this is already happening and that we should accept that this is happening.  Singer says that this occurs, sometimes not because of costs but because doctors want to refrain from putting a burden on the parents.  .
     
       "If an infant is born with a massive hemorrhage in the brain that means it will be so severely disabled that if the infant lives it will never even be able to recognize its mother, it won’t be able to interact with any other human being, it will just lie there in the bed and you could feed it but that’s all that will happen, doctors will turn off the respirator that is keeping that infant alive.  I don’t know whether they are influenced by reducing costs. Probably they are just influenced by the fact that this will be a terrible burden for the parents to look after, and there will be no quality of life for the child. So we are already taking steps that quite knowingly and intentionally are ending the lives of severely disabled infants. And I think we ought to be more open in recognizing that this happens." - Singer
        
        What gives Singer the right to decide quality of life?  Anyway he believe personhood doesn't start at birth, and only starts when you have awareness of yourself in place and time.  But, how do we know baby's aren't aware? 
       I will leave you with this:  My mother owned a group home when I was a little and all the children there had pretty severe cognitive disabilities, but they were happier than most of us.  Also, I am no burden to my parents and though it is sometimes hard we get through it. 

       

It Is Okay; We Are Only Human

You are worrying, are stressing, are overwhelming yourself.  The vibe is not good and it is contagious, but you can't help it.  You can not stop thinking about what triggered your moodiness.  Maybe you think nothing triggered it.  Maybe there was a trigger, maybe there wasn't -- I can't tell you; I don't know your mind.  The vibe is contagious, though, so let me hug your soul with the words that flow through my mind to stop the spread.
       I am not going to say "stop", as I have in past blog posts.  We are not supposed stress, worry, and overwhelm yet it is human to feel this way.  We are not robots and unlike robots we go through crap that almost always comes with emotional drama.  But, remember, we were designed to live; to trudge through the muddy mess of life so that we can enjoy the green pastures that are always around us.
       You are strong, you are intelligent, you are kind, you are helpful, and you can handle whatever is coming your way or in your path!  I believe in you!  God believes in you!

Revelation 21:4New Living Translation (NLT)

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Deuteronomy 31:6English Standard Version (ESV)

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”