GroshLink

Came across this short piece on raising special needs children and found that it rang true as we've faced various difficulties, not just w/children but in general:

Could it be that the special-needs, "imperfect" people have that balancing effect on society as a whole? How would love and compassion develop among people who were only surrounded by the lovely and intelligent? My children treasure nothing more than a smile or kiss, sometimes just eye contact, from their little brother. My nephew, who is a year younger than Michael, loves to help at his school with the class of students with special need -- or as he puts it, "the class like Michael." I see my husband kiss our son's often expressionless, crooked little face, and my heart nearly bursts with a love and joy that I can hardly contain.

Times of difficulty bring us into greater dependence upon God, seeking his grace through His Word, Prayer, circumstances, and the People of God. As a matter of fact, it seems that our interdependence upon the People of God is one of the most lacking pieces of the Body of Christ (as we forget that individual followers of Christ or particular local communities are not the whole deal).