Here is an example of how God can used really damaged people. I was on a retreat for handicapped people as an able bodied partner. My job was to do for her anything she couldn't do. Twenty years ago, I thought I wasn't worth the space I took up in a room or the air I breathed. DAMAGED very damaged.
Here's what happened. It was time to get my partner ready for bed. Her body was frozen in a chair shape so I had to scoop her up under her knees and around her shoulders. I hadn't noticed how close I was to the edge of her bed. When I stood up with her in my arms, the bed caught me in the back of my knees. We sat down really fast. What to do? If I bent over we would both be on the floor.
I asked her if she would like some lullabies. Here eyes twinkled yes. I was holding her in my arms. Rocking her was second nature from rocking my own babies. I sang everything I could remember and made up verses to Michael Row the Boat Ashore no one has ever heard before. She kept that infant eye lock with me the whole time.
I knew that eventually some of the other partners would come by and help me put my partner in bed. When we done I left the room last. About four doors down, I fell to my knees and cried. She had not been held in the arms of love in more than 40 years.........And God soothed the ache in her heart through such damaged goods as me. Damage can be transformed maybe one moment at a time.
Please(if you are a praying person) pray for Carmen. She is old now.
