Being Taught by God Through Special Needs Students: Part Two

This is another story where I was profoundly taught by students with special needs. In my 27 years of teaching religious education, 10 years have been with students who are disabled. They have taught me more about God, inspiration, life, compassion, etc. than I have taught them.

On this particular day (May of 2005), I wanted to teach and discuss how the things of God and the spirit cannot be bought or obtained with money. So, I asked my students what they would do with one hundred dollars. I received many answers like buy clothes, candy, toys, etc. However, Phil raised his hand and said he would buy happiness. Intrigued by his answer I asked Phil how he could by happiness with money (remembering the old saying that you can’t buy happiness).

His reply was profound and humbling. Phil said, “I would use the hundred dollars to help others”. Now remember these are students who are classified as mentally disabled. It hit me what Phil was getting at. I asked “how would that make you happy”? Phil replied, “I would be serving others”. I knew that he knew that happiness comes from severing others, just as God had taught so long ago (see Matthew 25:40).

Phil knew instantly what the world struggles to know each and every day – that happiness true happiness, not momentary pleasure, comes as we seek to lift and help another. Thank you Phil for reminding me what truly is important in a world obsessed with temporal momentary things.

Related Articles:

http://authspot.com/novels/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-3/

http://relijournal.com/christianity/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-four/

http://relijournal.com/christianity/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-five/