4 minute read
CHOOSING INCONVENIENCE
by Rev Vincent Lim, Diaconal Minister in The Methodist Church in Singapore. He serves as the MMS Regional Director for Lao and Thailand. He loves to eat spicy flavoured potato chips with his wife over the weekend!
Everyone appreciates a comfortable and pleasant environment. A quiet classroom can quickly become unsettling when disrupted by shouting or running. Rushing to an appointment, only to be delayed because the bus driver waits patiently for someone in a wheelchair to board, can be frustrating. A joyful gathering interrupted by a meltdown may create discomfort. Many of us have found ourselves in situations where we feel uneasy or inconvenienced by the disabilities of others—whether physical, sensory, intellectual, mental or related to chronic illnesses. These moments challenge us to respond with patience, understanding, and compassion.
When MMS founded Little Lamb Childcare Centre in Khon Kaen, Thailand, we were excited to teach children and instil godly values in them. Daily challenges such as crying, disobedience, and delayed learning were normal, and we handled them routinely. However, one day we encountered a situation that tested us in new and unexpected ways—a child began to show signs of autism. He struggled to interact with others, frequently screamed during class, and disrupted nap times with loud singing and outbursts.
Our teachers grew physically and emotionally exhausted. Understandably, they were also concerned about how this would affect the other children’s learning and well-being. During our discussions, we faced a difficult decision: to gently suggest that the parents find another school better equipped for their child’s needs, or to commit to nurturing and teaching him as best we could.
As we prayed, we asked ourselves: How does Jesus view this child? What would He do? The answer was clear. Jesus loved this child deeply and would never turn him away. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)
Jesus did not exclude children with special needs, and neither should we. It felt like a choice between doing what was right and doing what was easy.
It felt like a choice between doing what was right and doing what was easy.
We chose the right path, even though it was the harder one. When we told the child’s mother that we would partner with her to support her son, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. With tears in her eyes, she said, “We’ve been asked to withdraw from previous schools before. The teachers couldn’t handle my child. I didn’t know what I would do if your centre turned us away too.”
Disabilities and special needs often leave children and their families feeling rejected by society. By choosing to embrace this child, we offered them the acceptance and love that they had so rarely received. Yet what we did pales in comparison to the surpassing love of God, Who demonstrated His love for us in this: “... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Jesus did not let the inconvenience of coming to earth stop Him from redeeming us from our spiritual brokenness. During His time on earth, He reached out to the marginalised, the disabled, and the excluded, showing us what it means to love them unconditionally. Likewise, the disabilities of others should never stop us from loving, caring for, and accepting them for who they are.
About Little Lamb Childcare Centre, Khon Kaen, Thailand
A childcare centre that seeks to serve the community by raising the children with Christcentred values. This is a missions collaborative partnership project with Faith Methodist Church.
To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/p/ChristMethodist-Church-Khonkaen-100064804446314
or contact us (mms@methodist.org.sg) today.
