October 6: World Cerebral Palsy Day

 

October 6:  World Cerebral Palsy Day

Today is incredibly special for me.  My precious granddaughter, Tori, was born with CP.  She is cognitively sharper than most kids her age, but her one hand makes a permanent fist, unable to hold or grasp anything, and she will forever shuffle along as she runs, dances, and walks quickly.  She remains a shining light in all our lives.

Cerebral Palsy Day began with a small campaign called “Change My World in One Minute.” This project, started by Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia, sought for global change by allowing people to share ideas about new technologies and products that people with Cerebral Palsy could use to make their lives easier and better. Now, research teams from all over the world take part in this holiday, allowing new inventions to form and be presented at the CPA’s yearly event.

Today, I want to focus on encouragement.  To my dear son and precious daughter in law, and to all those parents who gladly care for special needs children, I want to remind you of something.  A time is coming when we will never celebrate a World Cerebral Palsy Day again…or a Cancer Research Day, or a Sepsis Awareness Month.  A day is coming when all of that and every stain from the fall will be obliterated, and every tear will be wiped from every eye. (Revelation 21:4)

A day is coming when death will die, and our bodies will be renewed.  “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) Do you hear that, my dearest Tori?  Just as surely as you were born, that day will come.  Put your trust in the Savior who bled and died so that you might live forever, perfect in every way--both arms, both legs, and everything in between.  You will raise both arms and unfold both hands in praise to the glorious riches of His grace, with reckless abandon and heartfelt gratitude.  To all the Tori’s across the world, live in that hope. Breath in the life-changing breath of God’s Spirit and know that this day is coming.

Until then, we will continue to celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day.  We will groan with all creation for the day when our glory will be revealed.  We will wet our cheeks with the tears of those who want nothing more than to run and play and dance like everyone else.  Until then, we will celebrate all the Tori’s we know, but most of all, I will celebrate my lamb, my love, my Tori.