Lesson Two: Reflection

The video of the conditions of the mentally and physically disabled in Serbia sickened me. I was so disgusted with what is going on there. It made me really sad to see. It is really unfortunate that the Serbian government does not give help to families with disabled children. I really think it is unfair to parents that the doctors recommend that they give away their child to a place so far away that they think is going to take care of their child, when really they are just neglected. I think it is so disappointing that the Serbian people think so low of people with disabilities, as if they chose to be disabled. I think that there is a little bit of that here in the U.S., but not nearly as bad as it is in Serbia. I was really proud of the mother who kept her child. It was probably really hard for her, but if you compare how great her child looked compared to the children at the institutions looked, he looked so healthy and loved. Some children are severely disabled and they won't really get a great shot at life, but I think it is so important to at least try to help them instead of letting them die in a bed by themselves. Other children, like those with Down's Syndrome, can have a great life despite of their disability, but sending them to an institution like that just makes them feel hopeless.

This video just really made me grateful for the Plan of Salvation and for the opportunity everyone gets to be resurrected. I know all those children and adults will be resurrected one day and be restored to perfect bodies and they will have perfect minds. They will be blessed to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for eternity. The spirits in those bodies are very special and they are choice spirits. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of God's plan.

Lesson One: Reflection

I think the thing that really stood out to me in all these talks this week was to not judge and to include others. I think I haven't been the best at that in my life, but that as I have gotten closer to Christ, I have been getting better. I also have had experiences in my life that have helped me to remember to include others and not judge them. I was bullied in middle school and I had no friends. Oftentimes, I would go to my math teacher's classroom for lunch because I knew I wouldn't have anyone to sit with if I went into the cafeteria. That feeling of being alone and unwanted was the worst feeling I have ever felt. I never want anyone to feel that way. I reflect back on that time in my life and use it to help me instead of hurt me. I look back and see that I learned how it feels to be on the outside. I do my best to never let anyone around me feel alone or unwanted because I know how it feels. I really hope in this class that I can learn ways to make children with special needs feel loved, included, and wanted.