Week of 4/27

This week I learned a lot about the need for compassion for students with special needs. I had the opportunity to read four amazing talks from our general authorities about compassion. In discussion with a group we talked a lot about how we are advocates for students with special needs and that we need to be willing to stand up for them, and how if we stand up for them then it may soften someone's heart towards children with special needs.
One thing that I really loved was in Elder Wirthlin's talk, Concern for the One. Elder Wirthlin talked about how people get lost and how we can help to find them, one section of his talk was titled "Some are lost because they are different" and then in this section he gave this amazing insight that I absolutely love. He said, "The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to call the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony." I think that it is amazing to think about it in that way, we all have something to add even though everyone may not see it that way, but we really do!
I also really liked how we talked about how assumptions hurt relationships, and often going in people have very strong assumptions or ideas about children with special needs, and the assumptions that people go in with are often very wrong and can hurt those relationships. We can be a friend to everyone and help them to feel loved. In my life I have found that some of my very best friends have been people with special needs, and that all the assumptions or ideas that I went in with were totally and completely wrong. It is very important that we treat everyone like the child of God that they are.
We also discussed entitlement and how we need to be sure that we are not thinking that we are superior to anyone, especially those with special needs. People often feel that they are superior in some way but when we have that attitude we are making our life harder and hindering ourselves. We will have a better attitude and outlook on life when we believe that everyone is capable of anything that they set their mind to.
Overall this week I have loved reading the talks and applying them to my field of study, it has been an amazing experience. I have come to know and understand that it is very important that we include and have compassion on children with special needs, like Elder Wirthlin said; they play a very important part in the orchestra.