Something to think about

This is a devotional I recieved today, which I thought was a good one to post:
TITLE: Broken Shells

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139:14-16; Exodus 4:10-11

THE STORY FOR TODAY:
Nick and his sister Laura were having a wonderful vacation at the seashore. They spent hours on the beach-swimming, building sand castles, hunting for shells, and making new friends.
"Want to come and find shells with Steve and me?" Nick asked his sister one day. "He knows where to find some big ones."
"Steve!" echoed Laura. "You're not going to play with him, are you? He talks funny. He sounds like a baby, and he can't walk good, either!"
"So what? That doesn't mean we can't play with him," replied Nick. "He's really nice-I like him."
"Well, if you're not careful, nobody else will want to play with you," Laura declared. "I'll find my own shells." She turned and went in the opposite direction.
When Laura returned home that afternoon, she found that Nick had gotten there first, and he had several very nice shells.
"Oh-h-h, Nick! Those are so big!" exclaimed Laura. "All I found are small ones. I like your shells a lot better than mine." She sighed as she added, "I wish I had gone with you."
"Even though Steve went with me?" asked Nick. Laura blushed and glanced at Mom.
"That's a fair question," said Mom. "I heard how you feel about Steve." She picked up one of Nick's shells and held it out to Laura.
"Look at this closely," she said.Laura took the shell and examined it. "It has a broken edge!" she said in surprise. She picked up another one.
"This one has a little crack, too." She sighed. "I thought they had to be perfect to be worth keeping, but even if they're not perfect, these are much nicer than mine."
"It seems to me you're treating people the same way you treated shells," said Mom. "Steve doesn't look perfect to you, so you threw him away-you refused to play with him."
Laura looked ashamed as Mom continued. "God made all of us-including Steve. We don't always understand why God does certain things, but He has a purpose for everyone and everything. We need to remember that each person is equally special to Him."
Nick nodded. "Think about it, Laura," he said. "You and I aren't perfect, either." Laura had to admit that Nick was right.

MEMORY VERSE: Who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Exodus 4:11

HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you know someone who has a special physical challenge? Perhaps someone who has trouble walking or talking or using his or her hands? Or maybe someone who can't speak clearly or doesn't see or hear well? Remember that no one is perfect-not even you. You don't have to understand God's reasons for making people as they are, but He expects you to accept them. Spend time with them, talk with them, and live in a way that shows them the love of Jesus.

THE KEY: Every person was created by God

THE SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 139:14-16
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
Exodus 4:10-11
Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?

A Poem for Sullivan

This is a poem for Sullivan my friend wrote:

"Look into his eyes"

"He is a surprise"

"He wants to be adopted"

"But he is not wanted"

"Cuz he's mentally retarded"

"He is really smart"

"He has a special place in my heart"

"Sullivan, I love you"

New Picture!

Hey! Got a new pic of my little angel, Sullivan (above). Please share this blog and help Sullivan get a chance to do all the things he's meant to do! Little boys aren't supposed to just sit in an orphanage; he should have the chance to go see a movie in a movie theater, play ball with a dad or brother, wrestle with a friend, play with Nerf guns, have candy. Just because he's different, just because he can't talk all that good, he still deserves a family. A video montage will be coming soon.