"You are a beautiful young lady"

Early this week I was riding the bus to work and there was a young girl on the bus in a wheel chair, her mom I assume was sitting in front of her and facing her. Then there was a lady sitting on the other side of the bus that was talking with them I assume that she was a personal support worker. The girl communicated through moving her lips and clucking. Her mom was having a normal conversation with her so she knew her well. Oxygen tube attached to her throat. She was a very beautiful young girl at about the age of 10-13 (she may be older, but because of the health issues looks much younger). The oxygen was not on all the time, but she she needed air she would gag and tell her mom that she needs some. This happened several times while riding on the bus a few minutes. Mom finally told her to stop talking for a minute and she obeyed. Any time someone would get off of the bus and go to the back door she would cover her ears because the doors made a loud noise. I caught on to this so made the point to go to the front door and on the way to expressed to her that she is a beautiful young lady. Thinking how often will she be told that? I teared up on the bus after watching her gag a few times. It certaining was not easy seeing her suffer. After I got off the bus I really got choked up and had to use a tissue to dry up the tears and blow my nose. I truly believe that God knows how easy my heart breaks when I see his people suffering.

Not to mention that many people do not even get any notice or recognition of being alive when they are in a wheelchair as someone once pointed out to me. So I make it a point to at least smile at someone. The other day when I was returning home from work I noticed that there was an older man on the bus in a wheelchair. He got off at the Hespeler Terminal like I did and I had to wait for my bus so I went to Timmies and got a coffee and sat down after going to wash my hands. Then I saw that same man in the wheelchair in line to buy his coffee. Then I thought how in the world did he get in here as I thought about all the curbs and such that would prevent him from getting in. Hence when he was behind me even after I went to wash my hands. So curiousity got to me and I asked him how he got around to get in here. So he told me that he had to go all the way around, so it likely took him 3-5 minutes to get to Tim Hortons from the bus stop that takes me less than 15 seconds to get in the door. Here we are supposed to be making life easier for those in wheelchairs and yet they just learn to make do. Well I think this man was happy that I asked him, so much so that he asked if he could sit with me. I saw no harm in it and he told me that he was just at a meeting regarding the issues with this. We typically don't look at how much of a challenge it is for someone in a wheelchair until we look at life through their eyes. This man was a truck driver, but lost part of his leg and now he can't drive. So now he knows the difference in life obviously, as he lived on feet now he lives on his bottom. Here's my challenge for you...smile at that person in the wheelchair over there, invest in a short conversation with them. Hear their stories and fight with them or for them when it comes to making life that much more easier for them.