More From Monica A. Andermann

For over twenty years, I worked in a facility that provided services for the multiply-disabled community, or as I learned to call it then, the differently-abled community. During those years, I witnessed more appreciation, optimism, determination, courage, patience, and strength in the individuals we served than I had ever seen before or have seen since. It was a wonderful experience. During my tenure there I was asked several times by well-meaning individuals outside of this community if I found my workplace depressing or saddening. “On the contrary,” I would tell them, “being part of this organization was uplifting.” The strength of conviction of the people I worked with was beyond inspiring.

In today’s devotion, I wrote of how my mother-in-law cherished her worn and chipped mug. It may have looked worn and broken to me, but in it, she saw its perfection. Addiction, temptation, poor choices, disability, the cruelty of dementia, and other ailments can threaten to make us appear worn and broken too. Yet, God looks at each of us and sees our perfection, even perhaps when the rest of society can’t or won’t. Face it, born into this human experience, we’re all broken at one time or another. Some people’s issues are more apparent than others. Likewise, some of us are just better at hiding our struggles. But God, seeing the divine potential in each of us, always meets us with love, mercy, and compassion wherever we are in our journey. And God stands by us, lending an arm to lean on.

“Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20 (NRSVUE)