Label Jars...Not People

Picture Source | Teddy's Ts

The other day I was trying to describe a family to my youngest son that he has met just once.  Their son has a fairly severe (and physically visible) disability.  I was reminding him about how this boy had served him dessert...

Ashton:  "Is that the boy who has special needs?"
Me:  "Yes it is.  Do you not remember him?"
Ashton:  "Of course I do.  I just couldn't remember if he had special needs."

He went on to talk about all of the minor details of that night.

And when I say all...I mean ALL.  

Love this kid.

He remembered his name, his cat, the dessert they shared....but he didn't remember that precious boy's (very visible) disability.  

At least, he didn't find it note-worthy. 

This brief exchange left such an imprint on my heart that I had to sit down and write it out. 

So many of us live in fear of saying the wrong thing.

What do we tell our child when they ask about that man in a wheel chair at the grocery store?  

How do we explain the way that a child with Autism thinks in pictures?

It hit me that while teaching kind words and people-first language is extremely important--definitely answer their questions!--it becomes so much less "scary" when we remember that ultimately we need to teach our children to LOVE PEOPLE.  

When we love people, the rest comes pretty easy.

And when we remember that we are ALL broken, all facing a disability of sorts, we can identify with those around us and see them the way that God sees them.  

The way that He sees us.
 
Soo...what do I want most for my boys?

I want them to forget the disability and remember the person.  I want them to have compassion for the differences they come across in others and to love them anyways. I want them to accept love from others despite their own brokenness and spiritual disability.

Love God, love His people.

That's all. 

-Cassi