Happy Easter. I pray the grace and blessings of our Lord be with us. The Nippon Sei Ko Kai Nursing Federation gathered with founders, kindergarten principals, and head teachers to train at St. Mary’s College, Nagoya at the end of February. The lecture was based on “Understanding and Support on Developmental Disabilities during Childhood.”
The lecture was on support for children with developmental disabilities, but upon hearing this, I strongly felt that this is not a problem solely in children, but common in adults as well. “Not being able to get the situation,” “snaps easily,” “has difficulty learning from past experiences,” “low on sympathy,” “doesn’t get jokes,” “doesn’t realize hurting the other,” “blames others for one’s own mistakes” and so on.
The lecturer did state that these were not problems only seen in children, but seen also in adults ourselves (those involved in children’s nursing). However, the same can be said for us ministers as well. It was a talk that I could sympathize deeply with.
Every one of us lacks something, or should I say, has a weakness. In order to express the church community, Paul took the body of the human being as an example and said, “The part where it seems the weakest is the part which is most necessary. God brings out those parts within us and made our bodies.” He also said that the non-weak parts cover up for the weak part to maintain the overall balance. “Not a disability, but a special quality,” “Not a child with a problem, but a child seeking for a hand.” These are important factors that build the foundation of Christian nursing. And then, the church community mutually recognizes the differences in the people related, accepts them, and while taking them into account and leading a religious life will grow into a well-balanced relationship.