The Beatitudes for Friends of Persons with Disabilities

While searching for a vegetarian blogger, I came upon this from another special mom blogger. It's beautiful and got me teary eyed. I suppose if my daughter read this to me one day I would break down too...

Blessed are you who take time to listen to difficult speech, for you help us to know that if we persevere, we can be understood.

Blessed are you who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers, for in your companionship we find havens of relaxation.

Blessed are you who never bid us to ‘Hurry up’ and more blessed you who do not snatch our
tasks from our hands to do them for us, for often we need time rather than help.

Blessed are you who stand behind us as we enter new and untried ventures,

For our failures will be outweighed by the times when we surprise ourselves and you.

Blessed are you who ask for our help, for our greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you who help us with the graciousness of Christ, who do not bruise
the reed or quench the flax, for often we need the help we cannot ask for.

Blessed are you when by all these things you ensure that the thing that makes us
individuals is not our peculiar muscles, nor our wounded nervous system, nor our difficulties
in learning, but in the God-given self which no infirmity can confine.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad and that you have given us reassurance that could never
be spoken in words, for you deal with us as God dealt with His own children.

-Author Unknown

And I believe it came from this version which I also came across (from the Mariposa Ministry)...

Blessed are you who take time to listen when communication is difficult,
for God will grant you an understanding heart.

Blessed are you who walk unembarrassed with those who are "different,"
for God will grant you self-acceptance.

Blessed are you who are patient with us who struggle to do things you can do readily, and blessed are you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us,
for God will grant you patience with yourselves.

Blessed are you who encourage and support persons with disabilities in new and uncertain ventures,
for God will renew your courage to dream and to dare.

Blessed are you who can recognize the gifts and seek the help of those who are weak and dependent,
for God will heal your fear of future losses.

Blessed are you who freely offer yourselves as eyes for the blind and as hands and legs for the paralyzed,
for you shall be helped by the blind and the paralyzed.

Blessed are you when you see past physical or mental limitations, defects, or deformities, and affirm each one’s beautiful God-given personhood,
for you will know that God receives even your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad,
for you will see Christ incarnate
in the fellowship of all believers.