Thank God for enabling the NPAC family to be a church that is disability inclusive. People with physical disabilities or special learning needs may not be able to communicate with others readily due to their own limitations. However, their lives are not much different from ours. Just like the rest of us, they face various difficulties and challenges. Yet, they are still able to live out the beauty and goodness of God.

There is an adult with autism. His parents love him dearly. As their son loves traveling, the father would regularly take him to spend a night in different hotels in Hong Kong or Macau for two-day trips. In recent years, the father’s bodily functions are deteriorating and is unable to wear or button his shirt by himself. When the son saw his father’s condition, he held out his hand to drag his shirt downwards, helped tidy and button his clothes and then said: “Dad is getting old! Dad is getting old!” The father was delighted. His autistic son knew his years of serving him, and he cared for him and helped him when he saw his needs.

Another child, a Primary Five student with autism, attends Little Seeds Children’s Sunday School. He cannot speak clearly and can only respond with single words. Later, those around him found that he could communicate with his family in written English. His mother noted that she did not teach the child English. So, she asked her child, “Who taught you?” “God did,” he replied. The mother shared with us a few written dialogues between she and her son. The mother asked: “How do you feel, knowing that you have autism?” The child responded: “Sometimes I feel very lonely because everybody stays away from me.” The mother asked: “How do you overcome your loneliness?” The child replied: “The LORD showed me peace and joy.” Then the mother asked: “Do you have anything to share with me?” The child responded: “We share the same love from the Savior Jesus Christ! We need to be grateful.” Another time, the mother asked her child: “Why is there human suffering?” The child replied: “Because God wants to tell us that we should rely on Him.”

There is another youth who has learning difficulties. Recently, he needed surgery to remove a tumor in his liver. Before the surgery, fellowship members and counselors visited him in hospital to pray for him. The youth shared with the visitors a picture on which is written: “Trust in the light. Trust in the Lord Jesus. (John 8:12)” After the surgery, he shared that he was really scared when he was wheeled into the operating room. So, he prayed. The Lord Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid and you will not feel the pain.” He replied: “I am not afraid now.” He said he really was not scared anymore. Finally, he felt peace in his heart and there was no pain.

How have the three episodes above inspired me? First, we need to respect people with disabilities. Like all of us, the disabled community face loneliness, suffering and sickness. They go through the same life cycle of being born, getting old, being sick and dying. They need love and care just like everybody else. They would convey love. They can also understand the love of the Lord Jesus. Second, we really need to learn from their faith and trust in the LORD. They have direct, simple faith in the word of the LORD. Third, am I willing to go in their midst to spend time getting to know them, listen to them and walk with them?

May the LORD guide us to make a response.