How can we love people who are different from us?
To me, this seems like a pretty crazy question. How can we not love people who are different than we are? If the world was full of people who were all alike, it would be a pretty boring place.
I am a special education teacher and an advocate for friends with disabilities. My goal is to spread kindness, love, and joy to people of all kinds. I advocate daily for people who may be outcasts because of their differences. Everybody deserves love and kindness. No matter what. When God sent his son to die for our sins, He did not send him for only one type of person. He sent him to die for EVERYBODY. When we are interacting with people who are different from us, we need to keep that in mind. Jesus has called us to love. John 13:34 says ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” It states over and over in the bible that we must have love and show love to everybody around us. This is so important to remember.
Your actions speak louder than words. Showing love is much deeper than using the words “I love you”. Showing love means you go out of your way to let somebody know you care about them. When interacting with somebody who has disabilities or may communicate differently than you, there are a multitude of ways you can express love to them. Simply make a point to say “Hi” is a great way to show you care. Giving a hug, a high five, or a fist bump could mean the world to somebody. You never know what such a simple gesture could do to a person’s day.
My point to all of this is that everybody deserves to be treated with love, kindness, and respect. The golden rule fits perfectly here. TREAT EVERYBODY HOW YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED!!!!! If you would like to be greeted and smiled at, then greet and smile at those around you. Be bold. Show love. Show God’s love to everybody around you, despite their differences. God doesn’t mess up and God created us exactly how he meant to. We need to remember these things every day of our lives and with every interaction we have.
Psalm 139:13-16
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
-abigayle sears
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