Deji has 3 younger siblings. The immediate younger brother Timmy
is also in year four, the class arm I work in. Timmy on the other hand is the
sweetest, calmest little boy. I feel like a few times I’ve noticed that Timmy
was a bit embarrassed by something Deji had done. Maybe bullied the little ones
on the playground, gave a loud fart in a silent crowd, burst into laughter for
no reason at all in the middle of the head teacher’s speech, or just shouting
in the loudest voice while we sang the school song and national anthem. The
list of what Deji can do at any time is endless. So, Timmy sometimes just shied
away from it all, somehow.
People in school, teachers and students find ready
entertainment in Deji. There is always something to be amused about when it
came to him. So it was such surprise when on a certain day last week, the
weekly certificates for children’s performances both academic and behavioral
were being announced, Deji was called as the pupil of the week from his class.
The entire school who were obviously bored with clapping for the numerous
winners from different classes broke into a thunderous applaud… Deji??!!!! He
walked up proudly, took his certificate and the school did not stop clapping
for some good minutes. The pride in his eyes nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Later that same day, we had gone to the art studio to do
something with the kids and while they were lined up outside someone pointed
out a nicely done painting framed and hanging on the wall. It had Deji’s name
written in it. Deji did that painting.
The kids were all giving gasps of surprise. Just then, I looked beside me and
saw Timmy (Deji’s brother in my class). He shrugged and told his classmates “
Deji might look dumb but there are many things he can do well. You will be
surprised”. I looked at him and my heart melted. I was so touched. this little boy believed his brother had invaluable gifts nobody saw.
Timmy’s innocent words have stayed with me for days since
then. He made me ponder about how easily we human beings write each other
off. It just takes a bit of abnormality
for the world to see you as a hopeless case. Deji is a laugh for so many people
and the reason is clear. They all think that is all he is, nothing more. I
don’t think that’s how God will expect us to see Deji and many of such people
in the world. I think he’ll expect us to look beyond the infirmities,
abnormalities and packaging, like he did with Aaron. Each life is uniquely formed
by God. When we are born with normal brains and bodies, I think we have more
than we need to help those with special needs. It’s important that we help them
in every way possible especially in finding out what special gifts they have
cos they do have one, or some. Writing them off is the most unfair and unjust
thing we can do to them even if we do it nicely.
As cliché as this is, “DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER”
should always lurk somewhere in the surface of our hearts. I think it will
help us look beyond the not so fantastic packaging of our brothers and sisters
with special needs. They need us so much.
One more thing, never forget how blessed you are to be the way you are..
((((((hugs)))))))