In the World of Special People

"He is of age; ask him" Gospel of John 9:23

They are called by different names: people with developmental disorders, people with disabilities, children with special needs, sunshine children…

But they are born in the same labor pains as other children, those whose health is stronger and who lack the problems inherent to special children.

What then to do?

How to raise them—different, very difficult, often completely incomprehensible?

How to become good parents for them? Patient, wise, correct…

From my own experience, I understood that most often negative public opinion prevents us from being good parents.

…We all know perfectly well and, moreover, feel the pressure of public opinion in the most various areas of our lives. And because of this pressure, in certain cases we acted not as we wished, but as was advantageous or convenient for us, in deference to this public opinion. Different feelings move us in such moments: shyness, fear, doubts, insecurity, loss of dignity, and others.

Parents of children with disabilities must constantly exist under such a press of public attention that sometimes they do not even wish to leave their homes. I have heard the opinion from those around us that parents hide their disabled children at home and do not want anyone to see them. But the matter here, most likely, is not with the parents, but rather that we, as a society, are not prepared to see a sick and possibly unattractive child or adult.

Remnants of negative attitudes toward disabled people, as second-class citizens, remain very strong in public consciousness, and society will recover from this for a long time yet. It is difficult for our awareness to recognize the healthy and people with limited abilities as equals.

I recall an example about this, told by Sergei Saponenko (a poet and writer born with cerebral palsy), who has a wonderful sense of humor, in addition to all his amazing abilities. He told how in Belarus, more than twenty years ago, an evening was held dedicated to his creativity. At this evening, songs and poems by Sergei were performed, and his books were sold. He, as always, was in a wheelchair, and his mother was beside him. A woman approached them, looking at his books, and then turned her gaze to Sergei and asked his mother with great concern: "But does he understand anything at all?"

Sergei heard all this and could not answer. But what was happening in his soul? Later he told this story with a smile. But I imagined the situation: what if someone asked such a question about me, what would happen to me, what would happen to you?

For example, I love to sew. And if at a fashion show of clothing I made, someone examining my work asked whether I knew how to use a sewing machine, it would probably cause me, at least, bewilderment and disdain for such a "narrow-minded person."

But Sergei was not offended at this woman. He understood that she did not wish to offend him; her eyes were simply closed by stereotypes: that if a person is in a wheelchair, then he has health problems, and if he has health problems, then mental ones too. And this stereotype affected her so strongly that, even being at a creative evening where it was told how and what Sergei wrote, she imagines him as completely incapable both physically and intellectually. I wish to express once more my admiration for such people as Sergei, who, themselves in difficult circumstances, are capable of understanding and forgiving others.

I remember when our daughter Kristina was born, I was told: "Do not be offended at people who did not pay you and your child attention. They simply do not know how to behave in this situation." And I wanted to cry out: "But it is I who found myself in such a situation, when I need to be understood and supported, and it turns out I must understand others and not be offended at them"… Lessons such as Sergei's story make a colossal impression on me, and indeed, I want to embrace and forgive everyone.

An example of public opinion's pressure on parents of the disabled is recorded in the 9th chapter of the Gospel of John. This is the story of the healing of the man born blind. We read that Jesus saw a man blind from birth, and the disciples asked: "Who sinned, he or his parents, that he was born blind?" But now we will not speak of this question. We are interested in this man's parents, their attitude toward him and toward public opinion. I wish to cite this text from the Bible:

"…as he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'

3 Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'

6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud

7 and said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, 'Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?'

9 Some said, 'It is he.' Others said, 'No, but he is like him.' He kept saying, 'I am the man.'

10 So they said to him, 'Then how were your eyes opened?'

11 He answered, 'The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, "Go to Siloam and wash." So I went and washed and received my sight.'

12 They said to him, 'Where is he?' He said, 'I do not know.'

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.

14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, 'He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.'

16 Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.' But others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?' And there was a division among them.

17 So they said again to the blind man, 'What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?' He said, 'He is a prophet.'

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight

19 and asked them, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?'

20 His parents answered, 'We know that this is our son and that he was born blind;

21 but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.'

22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.

23 Therefore his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.')

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, 'Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.'

25 He answered, 'Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.'

26 They said to him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?'

27 He answered them, 'I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?'

28 And they reviled him, saying, 'You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.'

30 The man answered, 'Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.

32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.

33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.'

34 They answered him, 'You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?' And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?'

36 He answered, 'And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?'

37 Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.'

38 He said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.'

40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, 'Are we also blind?'

41 Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, "We see," your guilt remains.'"

So we see the story of the healing of a man born blind. Of course, among the Israeli people there existed, recorded in Deuteronomy, an understanding of punishment for the sins of parents upon children to the fourth generation. But the Jews also possessed the book of the prophet Ezekiel, who speaks the words of the Lord, that each person bears punishment only for his own sins.

On this basis, one can conclude that the parents of the man born blind had a difficult life, as caring for such a person is complex, and society had its definite influence upon them. Also, they could not hope that their son would support them in their old age. Apparently, by the time of meeting Jesus, he was quite an adult man who had to beg for alms to survive. We meet with this man's parents when he, already healed, was brought to the Pharisees, who did not believe that he had been blind. The Pharisees called his parents to confirm his blindness from birth (verse 18). The parents confirm that this is their son, who indeed was born blind. Nevertheless, in their answer to the next question from the Pharisees, they distance themselves from their son. And this happens precisely because of public opinion. They say they do not know how he now sees, or who opened his eyes, and they suggest the Pharisees ask him themselves, since he is already an adult (verse 22). It is written that the parents answered thus because they feared the Jews, for they had agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus as Lord would be put out of the synagogue.

We do not know the details of the life and relationships between this man born blind and his parents, but still the question arises: why was the fear of being cast out from society greater than the joy of their own son's healing?

Moreover, a miracle of global magnitude occurred, about which the man born blind himself later speaks (verse 32). "Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind." Even such a stunning event, which seemed it should cause boundless joy in the parents and gratitude to the Creator of such a miracle, did not produce the proper effect. The parents continue to fear being cast out from the synagogue more than supporting their son, who, moreover, with great dignity deflects all the attacks of the Pharisees! And here one wishes to emphasize his knowledge of God and understanding of His actions, unlike other characters in this episode. The Pharisees, having lost this dispute, apply the force of their power and cast him out with the words: "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" But then Jesus finds him and strengthens him!

And yet our children so need our protection and support, children of any age! I remember a video shot by the father of a child with Down syndrome, where he tearfully tells a story of how he did not stand up for his son. He said that once he was with his boy in a store, and another child, seeing his son, asked his father: "Why is this boy not like everyone else?" To which the father of that child replied that he was sick and understood nothing. It was a short episode, unnoticed by anyone else. But, coming home, the father made a video in which he asked forgiveness from his son for not standing up for him, for not explaining to these chance passers-by what Down syndrome is, that such people understand everything, can do things, feel… He so deeply regretted his weakness in that moment that he said: "I am guilty that stereotypes about people with Down syndrome will continue to exist, my son will be shunned, and another generation will have incorrect views regarding people with disabilities."

He asked forgiveness from his son, who most likely truly understood nothing of what happened. But the father was tormented by the very fact that he had not entered the conversation, had been embarrassed, and had not defended his son and, along with him, all people with Down syndrome from this distorted opinion about them. He posted this video on social media so that many could hear it.

Dear parents! Who else, if not we ourselves, can protect our children? Children who, because of their condition, are unable to stand up for themselves and possibly cannot even understand that they are being humiliated or insulted. In the film "Stigma" (if you haven't seen it—watch it, I highly recommend it!), one of the mothers tells how much it pains her to see when teenagers mock her son. And he, seeing their smiles and thinking they are inclined toward communication with him, smiles back at them, which causes them even greater amusement.

In such cases, we, the parents, are always faced with a choice—which side to take, whose position to support. To remain accepted by society and merely shrug: well, that's how our child was born. Or to take a step toward your child, risking being rejected by society together with your child at this moment. But perhaps such an action in the future will cause even greater respect for you from that same society.

Public pressure, unfortunately, often prevents parents from fully accepting children with disabilities, from giving them their love, admiration, and parental pride. It is precisely the fear of public opinion that "breaks" many parents far more than problems related to caring for a sick child. For this very reason, parents more often leave newborns with developmental defects to the care of the state. The fear of losing social, friendly, familial, and other connections is so high that parents are inclined to make a choice not in favor of the children born to them. And if they do leave such a child in the family, they experience constant discomfort before society for such an unusual family member. Moreover, such a child often becomes an outcast even in his own family, where loved ones, under the stress of public pressure, are unable to express their familial feelings toward him, and moreover, see in him the cause of their disorders and problems with those around them.

Dear parents, let not this pressure become a stone of stumbling between you and your children, destroying your family and your love for your own children. In protecting your own—and not only your own children!—you are changing society's entire worldview regarding people with disabilities. Perhaps the steps you take in this direction will be noticed only by those around you, not by all of society. But this is already a great victory. Broader circles of public opinion are influenced by famous, well-known people in the world who, through their attitude toward their own children with disabilities, are capable of shifting the boundaries of many social conclusions. Such people are becoming more numerous, and together—the influence and aspirations of famous people and the parental protection of their children with disabilities—lead to the advancement of the idea of making life as full as possible for people with disabilities in our world.

Dear parents, do not agree with public opinion when it is not in favor of your child, and do not be led by it, do not fear losing your "face," do not be ashamed of your children, even if they do something wrong, take their side! For if not you, then who?

Dear fathers, this appeal sounds especially to you, for you are the head and protector of your family! Let this short poem, dedicated to the father of a special child, be my wish for you:

To be a father of a special child— An arduous lot upon this earth: You may not hear his voice so mild, Not send him to school with joy of birth. Your child will be constrained and bound In deeds and words and what he'll do, Yet by your ear his voice be found— In wishes, hopes, and dreams from true. He needs you as a poet's flame When inspiration strikes his mind, From where to gather strength the same? Who will encourage and be kind? Be for him life's support and stay, So he may know he's not alone! And Heaven's prize will have its say— The faithful son will claim his own!

…With each passing year of our public work, our ministry was strengthened. We became acquainted with new parents and discovered new opportunities to convey to our society information about people with limited abilities and service to them. I had never written stories, articles, or especially books; I could not even imagine myself as a radio or television host, but I met people who, seeing my unwavering desire to change society's opinion toward people with disabilities, helped me. And these were mostly people I had not known before. The Director of the Mission "Word to Russia" offered me the opportunity to record my own programs. I had no idea how I could do this, having neither education nor experience. But somehow it worked, and we recorded a series of programs called "Heavenly Citizens." My husband Viktor gave this name to the radio programs, as Christ had in mind precisely children when He said that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them. In these programs, we spoke mainly of children with severe forms of disability who, despite their biological age, had reached a developmental level of 2-3 years mentally.

Many pastors of churches and servants of the Pacific Union also responded to our requests to help organize various events for families, and we held a holiday "Day of the Special Mom" in our church. More than 50 people (parents and children) attended, along with 15 volunteers who cared for the children at our request. I wrote earlier that through the organization ALTA I met Irina, who worked as a translator. By that time, she had already, together with her sister and friends, organized a group of young people who, during the Christmas holidays, visited children with special needs in their homes. The children were very happy when a group of young people came to them with gifts and greetings. This ministry subsequently strengthened and expanded. Irina, through her work at ALTA, was already acquainted with some Russian-speaking families; we became acquainted with others by visiting various churches. Some heard announcements and came to our events. At the "Day of the Special Mom" holiday, Nikolai Alekseyevich Bugriev, at that time the director of the Pacific Union, suggested that my husband and I head the department of ministry to children with special needs in the Pacific Union of EHB churches. Previously, such a department did not exist; a mercy department handled help for special children. Nikolai Alekseyevich also suggested we travel to the "Serra Pines camp," located in a picturesque place near the mountain lake "Tahoe," which we gladly took advantage of. We described the history of one of these trips in the newspaper "Nashi Dni"; it was remarkable.

…More than once, with the assistance of the mercy department of the Pacific Union of EHB churches, a group of parents with children with special needs went to "Serra Pines" camp for one day of rest and fellowship. But the next trip could not be carried out due to weather conditions. Winter that year was snowless. And the kids very much wanted snow. So, beginning in January, the trip kept being postponed and postponed in hope that the weather would finally change. But, not seeing any particular changes in the weather, the organizers scheduled this trip for February 28th, the last day of calendar winter, as the waiting had, perhaps, dragged on too long.

Well, let there be no snow—is not the very opportunity to breathe fresh air, to enjoy the surrounding beauty, and to commune with one another wonderful? Not every family in our city with a child having certain limitations in physical abilities or intellectual development has the opportunity to venture into nature on their own. There are single mothers who cannot drive long distances because of their age and health condition, and there are those who have no transportation at all. And of course, for such people, a trip to nature is a special blessing!

But let us return to the snow. After all, the kids, especially those attending the Bible study group for adolescents with intellectual disabilities, prayed so much and so sincerely for snow to come, and constantly asked when we would go. And when I heard their remarks that they had prayed for so long, yet the snow did not come and probably would not come, it was very difficult for me to find words of support and affirmation for these young people. For I had been convinced more than once how they trust the Lord and pray fervently for their needs, and the Lord answers their requests!

So toward the end of the month, some changes in the weather forecast appeared. But by the 28th, no rain had gathered, and snow in the mountains did not fall. Well, no matter—the mood of everyone gathered was wonderful (several people, unfortunately, had fallen ill by that time and could not join us); the weather remained clear, and we arrived safely. When we exited the buses, we noticed light, airy snowflakes falling sporadically. And suddenly it began to snow! It started falling in enormous flakes, covering the tall firs and everything around. The children's joy knew no bounds! They became so animated playing in the snow that they forgot about everything, even that they were hungry. The parents also received a huge charge of positive emotions, for it was so beautiful, like in a fairy tale. What happiness to see smiles on the faces of children who had experienced so much suffering. Then there was heartfelt conversation over tea, and again playing in the snow…

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Subsequently, we more than once noted all the blessings sent to us from the Lord through the prayers of our children. Sometimes people would come to our group asking our children to pray for their needs, and the children with open hearts prayed for everyone who asked. Glory to the Lord, who hears all who turn to Him, and sends everything necessary according to our needs and His good pleasure!

…Many know the programs and books by Dr. Dobson called "Focus on the Family," where answers are given to various questions in the sphere of family life and child-rearing. This year we again visited the wonderful camp "Jony and Friends," where at all the seminars with parents, the idea was presented: to determine the difference in the lives of ordinary families and special families. Some definitions were suggested that showed how the life of a special family differs from the life of a family raising healthy, full-fledged children. We had visited this camp more than once before, and the knowledge and experience gained there greatly help us in the ministry conducted both for special children and for their families in the Pacific Union of Slavic EHB churches. It is hoped that people who do not have children with disabilities will be able to reassess their view on some questions, better understand the life of a family raising a child with special needs, and perhaps some will wish to help special families in some way. At these seminars, parents raising children with disabilities were called "heroes." Indeed, many of them can be examples of patience, faith, diligence, and unconditional love!

So let us look at the daily life of such a family. Of course, much depends on the diagnosis, the child's condition, the degree of his development—physical and intellectual—and many other things that introduce substantial differences in the lives of one family from another. And yet such families have more in common than different. They are united by one thing: their child with disability differs from all other healthy, normally developing children.

Under the influence of disability is the entire "special family," not just the sick child. It sometimes happens that the child himself, especially one with intellectual developmental delay, does not feel his inadequacy and does not suffer to the degree that his parents and close relatives suffer. Such parents face constant, unceasing care for the sick child, as well as protection of him and their other children from negative social attitudes. All this places such a family in very difficult circumstances, and indeed, far from all endure such blows and remain unbroken. Families are shattered, with one parent (usually the mother) left with the children. Healthy children suffer, often not receiving sufficient attention from parents, due to their being overburdened with care for the sick child. Many household duties and more, which in a normal family are performed by parents, often fall on the shoulders of healthy children. For this reason, some of them begin to have negative feelings toward their sick brother or sister, but some, on the contrary, become self-sacrificing and sensitive to another's pain. From their peers, the brothers and sisters of disabled children often endure mockery and misunderstanding, which strongly affects the formation of their personalities. It is especially difficult for such brothers and sisters to overcome negative peer attitudes during adolescence.

The first stage that each family usually passes through—when either from birth or in early childhood a child receives the status of disability—is a difficult path to acceptance of this child as he is. Many (probably it would not be wrong to say: almost all) parents even consider the diagnosis incorrect, seek better doctors and specialists, as well as ways to solve problems supernaturally. For each family, this path is unique—both in the degree of grief and despair, and in duration.

The second stage, which inevitably affects each special family, is the attitude of surrounding society toward the appearance of a child with disability in the family. If such a family is treated with understanding, sympathy, and willingness to help, it more easily overcomes what has happened and learns to live according to new circumstances. If treated negatively, with condemnation and suspicion, then the consequences are usually these: the family becomes isolated, breaks ties with society, and suffers alone. Of course, the degree of suffering of such a family increases many times over. I have sometimes heard it said that there is enough suffering on earth for everyone, and everyone suffers—each from their own experiences and each in their own way. This is, undoubtedly, true, but I would like to note that there are numerous reasons why people suffer. And some appear by the will of people themselves or by the will of children who themselves suffer and cause suffering to their parents. This includes various sinful addictions, ungodly lifestyles, and so forth. Of course, this in no way diminishes the severity of these experiences. But here too, a choice was made…

No parent chose to have a child with disability. Most often they are born that way. Should we blame the Creator or the parents for this? The guilt lies in the fall of mankind and the destruction of our planet, which began from that time.

In the not-so-distant past, under the influence of ideas of evolution and eugenics, the understanding of disability was this: "Disability—an abnormal part of a normal world." The disabled were tried to be unnoticed, hidden in specialized institutions, pretended not to exist. And the perception of them as persons equal to all other people on earth did not fit into consciousness. The most noble thing a disabled person could awaken in the heart of another—sympathy and pity.

In our time, thanks to many famous and high-ranking parents of people with disabilities who were able to push through laws forbidding discrimination based on disability and personal inadequacy, this attitude has changed. Now disability has become "a normal part of a normal world." The disabled appear on the street, receive social assistance, enroll in educational institutions and much else from state and social institutions.

But the Biblical point of view differs from this understanding as well. It tells us that disability is "a normal part of an abnormal world." Precisely because our world is infected and destroyed by sin, it no longer represents that perfect creation when the Lord said: "IT IS GOOD!"

So we have seen that the differences in experiences of various people because of their abilities are indeed very significant. But there is yet one more very important part of this question—the duration of suffering and the final outcome. For people who have experienced heavy shocks: the loss of loved ones, divorce, bankruptcy, and much else that is truly the heaviest grief—there is still a chance for recovery! Recovery precisely in this life, if they have health, full intellect, everything for a person to be able to care for himself and earn his living. There is a chance to start a new life and rejoice in this life in everything that other healthy and full-fledged people have.

A family with a child with disability becomes forever dependent on this disability. Moreover, for parents, the anguish of thoughts about what will happen to their child when they are gone is immense. Such parents never stop thinking about their child, not for a second, even if he is not with them at the moment, even if someone is temporarily caring for him. For such a child is unpredictable and far more than ordinary children, subject to various risks. Furthermore, the older he becomes, the older the parents become too, and the more difficult it is for them to fulfill their duties, which means their anxieties intensify.

But what wonders the Lord works with such parents! One of the pastors at the seminar told about how their daughter was born with cerebral palsy when they were missionaries in Papua New Guinea. Because of her severe health condition, they had to leave that country and return home to the USA. The girl lived for eighteen years. After her death, the parents adopted another girl with the same diagnosis. After their daughter's death, many told them: "Now you can breathe easier and live a full life." But it pained them to hear this, and they answered: "Our daughter was our beloved child, and we grieve deeply for her death, as any other parents would for their prematurely departed child." They were so moved with compassion for people with severe physical disabilities that they could not continue to live, simply enjoying life and bringing no joy to others. They decided they could give their love and care to their adopted sick daughter, so that at least one more person might have a somewhat better life in our suffering world.

So the distinguishing feature of the suffering of a special family is the unceasing, throughout earthly life, state of dependence, as well as hopelessness regarding improvement or change in the health condition of the family member with disability. We speak of hopelessness regarding medical or healthcare intervention. As many diseases that make people disabled are incurable, and science has no explanation even for the causes of their appearance. And there is no answer to the question: why are some people subject to such diseases while others are not? Of course, there are many suppositions and premises, but only that. The number of illnesses and the sick grows, while the means to fight this are nonexistent or far too insignificant.

At the above-mentioned seminar there were more than fifty families, and all spoke about their children's diseases. We heard of diagnoses we had never heard of before, and we saw these children. It is very difficult to look at faces disfigured by illness and suffering, but how joyful to see that there are those who wish to somehow help them, ease their pain, share their suffering, and most importantly—show respect for their persons and Christian, brotherly love.

One of the pastors told a story he had read in a book. A believing man once visited a family that had a child with a severe form of disability. He had many physical problems and profound intellectual disability. He required continuous care, as he could not care for himself at all. Seeing this, the man said: "Oh, this child is in such a terrible condition, but I can help—I will pray with you for his healing!" The family members present answered:

"We are grateful to you, but we also wish to pray with you that the Lord grant you love for such children—in the condition they are in!"

To pray for the sick is not easy, but to show love in action is even more difficult.

We marvel at the friends of the paralytic who broke through the roof and laid their sick friend at the feet of Jesus! How all people with disabilities and their families need such friends!

To become a friend to a person with disability, one must first of all see in him God's creation, equal to any other, even the smartest, most beautiful and popular person in the world, and all his limitations, deviations, distortions, and inadequacy—regard as inflicted by illness as a result of mankind's fall.

The Lord has called His children to help the sick and care for the needy. In helping people with disabilities, we fulfill the will of Our Lord!

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world… For I was sick, and you visited me;' …then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you sick,… and come to you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" (Gospel of Matthew 25:34-40)