Belated: Music Monday: “You’ve Already Won” by Shane and Shane
By: Debbie Waltz
It’s incredible to think that my book, “The Summer of Mended Hearts,” will be available on Amazon in only a few weeks. It seems like only yesterday that Lauren and I were discussing our childhood dreams of what we’d become. Even then, my aspiration was to become a writer in some capacity, driven by a desire to contribute positively to the world, despite the challenges posed by my disability. Now I’m actually doing it. My friend, Lauren, who also has CP, is pursuing their dreams while working as a speech pathologist to individuals who also face disabilities of all kinds.
Still, I can’t help but wonder what’s next…
I know some of you are probably saying, “But Debbie, everybody worries about their future in their life; you’re fine. You’re just like everybody else. ” While you may be right, there’s probably something you never considered. And this is something that disabled people rarely discuss. Individuals with lifelong disabilities may feel pressure to prove their value to society. We feel obligated not only to prove our worth to our professional peers but also to establish a precedent and clear a path for future disabled individuals.
That’s a tremendous burden, especially when you consider the challenges disabled people already face. Then my mom brought something to my attention. Jesus has stayed faithful up to this point, so why would I doubt him now? That question really made me pause. She is right. Because of my disability, I wish to maintain control over all aspects of my life and my independence as I can.
But I can’t!
It’s not my job…
To be clear, I understand that I have a responsibility to follow the calling God has placed on my life; however, the outcomes are in Jesus’ hands. Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 15:10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace was not without effect.” In this one simple statement, he is proclaiming God’s transformative power in his life and making sure that everybody knows his identity and abilities are rooted in God’s grace.
As Christians, we believe we played a significant role in our own transformation. However, in reality, that’s not the case. While God allows us to participate in His rescue story for all of mankind, we only play a small part. We sometimes forget that Christ alone holds the key to our victory. He had done the difficult part; he died in our place. He paid the price that we cannot pay. What’s more, Jesus did it while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)