Addy’s Eyes

Addy’s Eyes

Bible Blast: Read 1 John 4:7-12

God is love. 1 John 4:8

Addy’s family planned to go on a cruise for a special vacation one year. Addy made some new friends in the Kids Club on the big ship and had a ton of fun. One friend Addy made was Melinda. Melinda had Down syndrome, a disorder that can make people look a little different and keep them from maturing as quickly as other kids. For one of the activities, Melinda was the designated writer for the project the kids were working on. She had a difficult time writing well, and the other kids started making fun of her. Melinda went to sit on the beanbags, and Addy went with her. They played together the rest of the afternoon.

Later Addy told her mom, “It doesn’t matter what you can or can’t do. It matters who you are.” Addy knew God loved Melinda, and that meant she would love Melinda too.

In 2 Samuel 9, we see King David’s having the same kind of eyesight that Addy had. When David became king, he found out that one of the former king’s grandsons was still alive. He immediately sent for him. His name was (are you ready for this?) Mephibosheth. When Mephibosheth arrived, he was pretty nervous because it was common in those days for the whole family of the ex-king to be killed. David told him not to be afraid. He gave Mephibosheth his own land and told him that he would be brought to the palace to eat with the king regularly.

Here’s something that makes this story a lot like Addy’s. Mephibosheth was crippled in both legs. By today’s terms, he was disabled. Back in those times, a handicapped person would have a difficult, if not impossible, time making a living. But David blessed Mephibosheth with land and good, solid meals for the rest of his life—even though Mephibosheth was the grandson of his former enemy.

When someone has a disease, disorder, or disability, life can be really difficult for that person. A little bit of kindness and love can go a long way to help someone feel important and special.

Girl Gab: What could you do differently to express love to someone who’s different from you? Pray that God would give you eyes like Addy’s and King David’s. Do you feel that sometimes other people treat you like those kids treated Melinda? Ask God to encourage your heart today, and ask him for a true friend who will see just how amazing you are.