Lessons From Jeremy: Part 2

Jeremy overcomes fantastic odds in his optimism and pursuit to follow God’s will for him. You see, Jeremy was born twenty-five years ago with cerebral palsy. His left arm is constantly bent inward, he walks with a severe limp, it is often difficult for him to say the words he desires and more frequently difficult to understand him, and he does not always have control of all of his motor functions. To the simple passer-by, Jeremy seems to be merely another young man with special needs. To those who take the time to speak with him, Jeremy is an invaluable treasure.

Jeremy’s overwhelming joy in telling me of God’s revelation to him left me stunned. I had so many questions swimming through the murky mists in my head. I had misjudged him, and for that I could not be more sorry. I had pitied Jeremy, been sorry for what his life must be like; sometimes I had avoided him in order to maintain my comfort zone – the absurdity of that is shameful. The reality was this: Jeremy should pity me.

I hesitated, but decided to ask anyway, “Do you ever get frustrated by it all?” Oh yes, he said. He gets frustrated and lonely, but he knows he has a purpose in it all. “God uses my handicap for a purpose,” he said excitedly. Purpose. He said that word over and over again with such elation and hope. Not just in spite of circumstance, but because of it, Jeremy could encourage those around him like no one else could. Suddenly, my health issues and life problems seemed so minor and embarrassing. While I was complaining about minor daily frustrations, Jeremy was living each day to the fullest, loving everyone with whom he came into contact literally as Jesus would.

To live life as Jeremy does! What an idea it is, what a goal to which we can aspire. What lessons there are to learn from one whom the world deems to be worthy of its pity. The truth of the matter is that Jeremy should be envied by us all. In spite of pain, in spite of misfortune – if there really is such a thing – he ‘presses on toward the goal’ that God has put before him.

Yes, he becomes frustrated – but he does not let that deter him or slow down his mission to live his life for the absolute glory of God. With his big smile, he removed his ball cap and told me again how he just tries to impact the lives of the people God puts in his life. He told me that before he approached me for the second time, he had been about to go elsewhere but God told him to not leave the area. Apparently, he said, he was supposed to talk to me and he hoped that he had encouraged me. With tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my lips, I told him that he’d never know how much.