A Story

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home afterhaving fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco."Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have afriend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurtpretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost anarm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come livewith us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someonewith such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our ownlives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with ourlives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy.He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothingmore from him. A few days later, however, they received a call fromthe San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from abuilding, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. Thegrief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to thecity morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him,but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know,their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to lovethose who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't likepeople who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We wouldrather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, orsmart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us thatway. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes usinto the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are..