[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] FW: God lives under the Bed.

Fri Apr 23 12:31:22 UTC 2021

From: Larry Perry [mailto:larryperry at performancepress.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of Larry Perry
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2021 8:10 AM
To: mmoore11 at kent.edu
Subject: EXT: God lives under the Bed.

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Letter from Larry

Friday

April 23, 2021

Good Morning Everyone:

Don't start reading this one until you've got more than a minute 

to just 'scan' over it. It deserves some time for reflection. 

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED 

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed.

At least that's what I heard him say one night. 

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to

listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. 

Under the bed....' 

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique 

perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night 

something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the

first time the very different world Kevin lives in. 

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties

during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways 

in which he is an adult. 

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old,

and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives

under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space 

under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the 

sky because angels carry them. 

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever 

dissatisfied with his monotonous life? 

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled,

home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-

and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.  

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers 

excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn 

child. 

He does not seem dissatisfied. 

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of 

simple work. 

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before

dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry

for his next day's laundry chores. 

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad

takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes 

land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger 

inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps 

his hands. 

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. 

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. 

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. 

His life is simple. 

He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, and he 

does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food 

he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that

one day they may not be. 

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is 

working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet,

his heart is completely in it. 

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not 

leave a job until it is finished.. But when his tasks are done, Kevin 

knows how to relax. 

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is

pure. 

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, 

and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. 

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not 

afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, 

always sincere. And he trusts God. 

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he

comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends 

with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. 

God seems like his closest companion. 

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy

the security Kevin has in his simple faith. 

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine 

knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. 

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap.

I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they 

all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care 

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After 

all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying 

after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. 

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are 

all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that 

God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived

under his bed. 

Kevin won't be surprised at all ! 

When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. There

is nothing attached. This is powerful. 

FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN

OUR WINGS HAVE   TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY  . 

*****

May God Bless and keep you and yours!!!

Larry

NOTE: This letter is sent to anyone interested in receiving these inspirational notes. There is no charge and you are encouraged to forward these to anyone you think would benefit from reading them. If you would like to receive them direct, just send an email to me at larryperry at att.net and request to be added to the Letters from Larry list. If you press the UNSUBSCRIBE button, you will be permanently unsubscribed from receiving these letters. 

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