Throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to have among my friends and students several who face mental challenges. Thinking about them still brings a smile to my face. As I share some of their stories, know I have changed their names, to give them the dignity they deserve.
One year, I met weekly with a group of children needing extra instruction in their religious knowledge. I might have been worn out from the day’s activities as I entered their classroom, but it never failed that I would walk out feeling happy and refreshed. A friend asked if she could join me one day, after seeing how this group always left me in the best of spirits. Before beginning the class, the friend joined us for cookies and chatter. As she nibbled on one of her cookies, the young man sitting next to her leaned over to take one of her cookies off her plate, popping it into his mouth. He was very polite about this; as he reached over to take the sweet, he said, “Excuse me!” Who could ward off someone’s hand when such politeness is used!
Through a number of years, I had the joy of knowing Sam. Sam made me laugh, though he did not mean to be funny. He was so full of life. Nothing could get in his way. As we munched sandwiches one day at lunch, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He knew exactly what he would be doing. First, he said, he was going to be an FBI agent. When he no longer wanted to be an FBI agent, he planned to become a circus clown. I told him his career plans were perfect. Why not finish life by being silly, bringing constant laughter to others!
Tim was another source of my sunshine.. He and I would have fun in mock wheelchair races. Of course, he always won. I thought my muscles were good, but his made mine look like peanuts. We would have these races after the church services. People learned quickly to laugh and get out of our way.
During one of the church services, he placed his wheelchair next to mine in the aisle. It was hard to focus, as I could feel his love and strong spirit radiating outward. I also noticed he had a bad cold. His relative would tend to him, using her package of tissues. Now, as much as I loved Tim, I really didn’t want to reach out and hold his hand that day, because if the tissue hadn’t been quite ready for him, he would use his hand. I came up with the solution of reaching over to take hold of his wrist, to give it a caring squeeze. Doing so, he looked at me with his tender eyes, raised his wrist and gave my hand a good kiss. All I could do was smile at his gentleness. I was wrapped up in thinking about germs, while all he thought about was sharing his love and kindness.
One parent told me how he and his wife realized the extra chromosome the mentally challenge carry is one of sheer happiness. How blessed all of us are, who get the chance to experience their joy. God knew what he was doing, having this elite group bring us a constant stream of innocence, love and bliss in an otherwise hectic world.
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