Regardless, she served her meal. The husband picked up a badly burned biscuit, smiled at his wife, and spread a thick layer of jelly and butter on it, while making conversation with his son, also at the table. After dinner, the wife apologized for the burned food, but the husband assured her, everyone needs burned food occasionally. Later the son asked his dad if he really enjoyed the burned biscuits like he implied. The dad confirmed his earlier statement, explaining his wife had a long day, she was tired, and besides that, it really didn’t hurt to eat burned food now and then!
I loved the story and the lesson it gives. People, like our lives, are not perfect. It doesn’t seem to matter how much we try, there are days when things just don’t go right! It’s when we can look past not only our own faults and shortcomings, but those of others, who, like ourselves, are also not perfect!
We all struggle in different areas. It’s in this place we can celebrate our differences; because someone else’s weakness is another’s strength. It keeps things balanced, proving that we are all human and occasionally “we burn the biscuits!”
It takes some effort from time to time to look past the “imperfections” of others. That, too, proves we are human! But meaningful, lasting, relationships are forged in finding the best in those around us.
Besides our “lives” filled with daily imperfections, there are those around us with special needs, who are considered “imperfect!” These special needs can be dyslexia, ADHD, Down Syndrome, asthma, or Muscular Dystrophy, to dozens more. Each of these special people, seem to some, to be a “burned biscuit.” They are “left on the plate,” or pushed aside for others who seem perfect and balanced. Very often, it’s these very special people, who have the biggest heart and the ability to show us different, or “less than the accepted perfect” is just what the world needs.
Sadly, some people have a difficult time looking past these “special” people. Recently in a department store, one young woman became impatient with a young man in a wheel chair, with crippled hands doing his job of greeting and placing the required stickers on returns. He could completely do the required task, but he took a bit longer than she or another non-disabled might have. She shook her head in frustration and walked away.
Jesus loved everyone, so much so he died for each of us. There are stories in the Bible where Jesus healed those with disabilities (the lame walked again, the deaf could hear, the mute could talk, and a crippled man’s hand was restored, and these are only a few!) Clearly God loved those with special needs as much as anyone else. Aside from that, each of these amazing human beings were created just as He designed. Their healing wasn't a sign that they were imperfect; it was a sign of Jesus' power! They have so much to teach us, if we’ll take a moment and be a humble student!
Perhaps this week you can be like Jesus and rather than excluding, rejecting or looking at a person with a special need as less than perfect, I encourage you to reach out, look beyond the “burned biscuit factor” and see them as a unique individual who has much to offer. You will be amazed at the genuine affection, kindness and compassion with which you will be blessed.
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