Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7

“Welcome Home” are wonderful words to hear, but what if you have no one at home to welcome you?

My dog and I are always excited when our boy gets home from school. My dog expresses it a little more comically than I do. She runs around in circles, bouncing near my son, wagging her tail! You can almost see the smile that comes across her face! Her boy is home! I’m afraid the neighbors would think I was crazier than they already do if I exhibited those same antics to greet my son! I smile and joyfully greet him with words expressing how happy I am that he is home… happy, loved, enjoyed, wanted, even if he doesn’t function in the same way that typically developing children do. He is loved beyond words but only a fraction as much as Jesus loves him.

We just returned a little over a week ago from another place that welcomed us dearly. A place where we were blessed for a second year in a row. Hope Heals Camp doesn’t say “Welcome Home.” They have words more endearing…

From the moment you enter the campgrounds in Alabama, to when you park your car and get out. You are greeted with a Christlike welcome and love and acceptance. Words of,

I’m so glad you’re here!

It’s so good to see you!

You were meant to be here!

The words are not mechanical but from deep within their hearts. They really are glad you are there.

This is a magical place, not the sorcery kind, but a place where you can feel the Spirit and love of God in every inch of the campus. This camp welcomes families with disabilities. Some disabled are small children, some are adults, and some are elderly. It doesn’t matter the disability or the age, the whole family is welcomed and loved on and pampered.

Last year I was healed at camp. I was healed from pride and rejection. In the initial application process, I had confirmed that my autistic child might have a meltdown but I was a trained professional and mom who knew him well and knew how to prevent and accommodate him if he became extremely stressed. He proved me wrong. As I took him back to his room to calm him down – (did I mention my head was tucked in shame and embarrassment?), I mentally planned how to secretly escape the camp before I even got to experience day one. Before I could take the first step in packing, there was a knock on our room door and I was surrounded by three beautiful ladies who loved on us and prayed with us. The rest of the week was an amazing experience of Christ’s love and their love poured out on us. My son did fantastic the rest of the week!

This year, my son was healed. I had just gotten him out of a devastating public school situation four months earlier. He was still traumatized by what had happened. Some of those traumatic events I will never know since he is nonverbal. He no longer trusted people he knew and simple noises made him jump and cling tightly to me. Even if I stepped out of his sight for a few moments to bathe or cook or get the mail I was met by screams and a child in terror. For three months, this child who had become independent and confident was clinging to me 24/7, seven days a week.

We had known that one of his buddies at camp this year would be the same as last year. Last year my son adored him, but how would he react this year? He wasn’t even trusting people he knew for years in therapy. I spread the word, and we covered him in prayer, even up to the last minute, as we drove into the camp. I had printed a collage of photos from the previous year of him with his buddy and we talked about the photos every day for a week.

As we parked the car, my son’s former buddy came to greet him. I saw the tension in my son; but just moments later, as his buddy took his hand, his shoulders relaxed, and he gladly went off with him for a ride in the golf cart…just like that, the power of prayer.

The word, Welcome, has been around since the Middle Ages (see Online Etymology Dictionary). It is a kindly greeting to gladly accept, with joy, a person coming to visit. Some synonyms are, wanted, appreciated, desired, cherished, invited, accepted, and honored.

In most of the world today there is a limited number of people who accept, honor or cherish a child or an adult with a disability. Thirty years ago when I was working with the deaf community I was heartbroken to learn about the obstacles this population had to face to exist day to day. I would have thought – dreamed – thirty years later opportunities would have been more accessible for them.

As a child of God, I hang my head and my heart breaks when I drive by many churches that have signs stating, “All are welcome here.” Seriously? Where are the special needs ministries in the church? How are programs including people that are confined to wheelchairs permanently? Some churches have counseling classes for widows or others who have lost loved ones. What about encouragement classes for those who have lost physical movement due to strokes, or lost limbs? Where are the support groups for single parents with disabled children? The body of believers should reach out to all people. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”(Psalm 34:18). Do you minister to the disabled with the same Christlike love?

It pains me greatly when people ignore my son or feel that he is not understanding just because he is nonverbal and walks to the beat of a different drum. If you could only understand where he came from, what he has experienced, and the milestones and achievements he has made, you would be amazed! All children have the potential to learn greatly when given love, time, patience, and respect… ALL children.

“The LORD of Armies says this: Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, (or the disabled), the resident alien or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another” (Zecharia 7:9-10/Emphasis added).

Don’t miss out on the blessing of showing kindness to everyone.

I can’t wait to get to heaven, where I will meet Jesus face-to-face, and He will say,

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. (Matthew 25:23)

Enter!! Welcome!!

You are,

Invited!

Desired!

Cherished!

Accepted!

It will be the deepest, most loving greeting you will ever hear!

Welcome Home!

• My emotionally healed son at camp with his buddies. It brings tears to a mama’s heart to see her son’s joy restored. You too can make a difference in the life of a disabled child!
• See HopeHeals.com/camp for more photos