Although the Savior loved all he met, he had a special love for certain groups of people. Everywhere he went, he called to him the disabled. He also called to him the children. We can guess that his love for children who had disabilities was powerful and that he never turned one away from his presence. And yet today, little children with special needs are occasionally turned away from His Primary classroom doors.
In most wards, little ones with disabilities are welcomed to the Primary with open hearts. Teachers pray for guidance to help them understand how to teach even the most disabled child. Every now and then, however, I receive an email from a heartbroken parent who tells me her child is not allowed to attend Primary because he is perceived to be a burden. There is a large keep-out sign posted on the doors of some of Heavenly Father's homes, and I suspect it breaks His heart.
Once, the Savior had put in a very long day. He was tired and the crowds and the demands had been great. When a group of loving parents arrived with their little ones, the disciples tried to send them away. They didn't want the Master burdened by this new group. The Savior heard them, though and gently rebuked those who might turn away a child. "Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14). Another time, he took a child in his arms and told his disciples, "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me." (Mark 9:37) He then warned his disciples that, "whosoever offends one of these
little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea." (Mark 9:42) There is no question of the Savior's love for children or the importance he placed on teaching them and caring for them. He never placed conditions on this commandment to teach the children, and as leaders and teachers in the Primary or in the ward, we must not exclude any child either. The Savior has sent you His own, beloved little one and has asked you to love him, to care for him, to teach him, and to welcome him.
Teaching a child with special needs can be a challenge. I've taught a number of them. Certainly there have been days when I longed for a peaceful class where no one wandered around babbling, or where I didn't have to sign as I talked. As I've struggled to create a lesson that could be meaningful to a child who could not see, who could not understand language, or who could not sit still, I've dreamed of weeks when I could just teach the lesson as it was outlined in the book. However, these longings are brief, and never intense, because as I work, I keep in my heart the child for whom these special adaptations are for. When I prepare a lesson especially designed to reach a child with disabilities, I am reminded that every child needs a lesson prepared just for her, and I teach children instead of lessons.
Is there a special child who ought to be in your class or Primary, but is kept out because you feel uneasy? Take a chance, stretch your talents and open your heart. Welcome every child to your Savior's Primary.
Next week we will discuss some techniques for adapting lessons for special children.
Dictionary of Sign Language Terms
