Today I met a woman who was called “baby” by her family. She was born developmentally disabled.
Her ekder sister, our neighbor, was caring for her for a few weeks. Normally the sister lived in her native country with other relatives, but my neighbor’s son was getting married.
I found it lovely that this younger sister was included in the celebration. No one would have thought to leave her out because it was “inconvenient”.
So when my neighbor came over to look at a blouse my Mom was giving to her for the wedding dinner, she brought over her sister.
She is a kind person, but was a little impatient with her younger sister. I understand that. She had the wedding of her son after all, with all the busy-ness associated with it.
It could not have been easy caring for the younger sister, but among South Asian communities, family always cares for its own.
The neighbor and her sister were greeted at the door by my mother, who welcomed them into the house. They took off their shoes and left them by the door. I was on the in the library lookin on, so I called out a greeting and waves at them.
My neighbor introduced her sister. The younger woman smiled beautifully across the room at me, swept her arms out as though hugging me, and said, “I love you!”
I sent her kisses across the room.
Then Mom and her friend went off to Mom’s bedroom to look at some clothes. They left the sister in a chair at the kitchen table.
A little while later, I heard the poor woman asking plaintively for water. So I got up and brought her a cup and gave it to her with a side hug.
“Do you need anything else, dear,” I asked.
“I love you,” she said, again, quickly drinking the water. So I refilled the glass and was thinking of seeing if I could find her a treat when my Mom and neighbor came out.
We all chatted as women do for a few moments until I tired of it, my latent introversion taking over.
I went back to reading my book.
They went back to nattering.
All was well with the world.
I felt a sense of… well, being blessed, by what had happened. I can’t put it any other way.
It’s one thing to be called on to help a friend who is injured or who needs a ride or any of a million other things we do all the time. But when you are called on to help someone who is so vulnerable — God allows you to be blessed in a special way. And you want so much to deserve His trust that you will treat that person as the Child of God that they are.
Today I thank you God for letting me serve. Amen.
I am fighting stage IV cancer. If you can help with medical bills, I would really appreciate it. Or if you enjoy my writing and would like to buy me a cup of coffee, that’s great too. Maybe someday I can return the favor.
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This post was previously published on Shefali O’Hara’s blog.
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Photo credit: iStock
