J
Something has been bouncing around in my brain since Saturday...
While I was at a flea market with friends, one of them (a Christian) made a comment about a man standing in the street. From the looks on the others' faces, it was as troubling to them as it was to me, yet we all remained silent because we didn't want to "offend anyone". After an embarrassing pause, it took one of the children to say, "You know, he could have something wrong with him." After which the person who'd said the thing acknowledged that it was unkind. He went on to say that he was proud of the child for reminding him of this.
We see it all the time. I have even seen it here in this forum countless times regarding individuals suffering from things varying from Asperger's to severe depression. Mockery and sarcasm directed at complete strangers who said or did things that seemed odd or out of the norm (whatever a "norm" may be). And when informed of the stranger's situation, somehow the fact that they weren't aware of the person's disability made it okay to have done it.
Most of us wouldn't dare mock someone with a physical disability we could see, but it has somehow become socially acceptable, even among believers, to slam (and even harass) those with mental or emotional illnesses. Some even behave as if mental and/or emotional illnesses are sinful.
It troubles me. Deeply. We are supposed to be children of the Most High God. Children of compassion and mercy. Children who speak healing into the lives of others, not scars.
I know the godly-hearted little one who spoke up will never read this, but I thank him from the bottom of my heart for teaching me not to remain silent about something that is hurting so many.
While I was at a flea market with friends, one of them (a Christian) made a comment about a man standing in the street. From the looks on the others' faces, it was as troubling to them as it was to me, yet we all remained silent because we didn't want to "offend anyone". After an embarrassing pause, it took one of the children to say, "You know, he could have something wrong with him." After which the person who'd said the thing acknowledged that it was unkind. He went on to say that he was proud of the child for reminding him of this.
We see it all the time. I have even seen it here in this forum countless times regarding individuals suffering from things varying from Asperger's to severe depression. Mockery and sarcasm directed at complete strangers who said or did things that seemed odd or out of the norm (whatever a "norm" may be). And when informed of the stranger's situation, somehow the fact that they weren't aware of the person's disability made it okay to have done it.
Most of us wouldn't dare mock someone with a physical disability we could see, but it has somehow become socially acceptable, even among believers, to slam (and even harass) those with mental or emotional illnesses. Some even behave as if mental and/or emotional illnesses are sinful.
It troubles me. Deeply. We are supposed to be children of the Most High God. Children of compassion and mercy. Children who speak healing into the lives of others, not scars.
I know the godly-hearted little one who spoke up will never read this, but I thank him from the bottom of my heart for teaching me not to remain silent about something that is hurting so many.
We can learn so much good from them, and pray they learn more good than bad from us.