But the greatest of these is love…

Last month, people around the world celebrated Valentine’s day. During this time people share gifts as expressions of love for one’s Valentine. In particular, chocolates and roses were in high demand. The apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians  (1 Cor. 13: 1-13) is a beautiful description of what love is. We came across a powerful story from one of our field partners in South Asia. This story is about a couple who use CHE to highlight the need to include marginalized people with disabilities into becoming part of the community with love, care, and the dignity they deserve.

This story comes from one of our colleagues in South Asia. It is about a beautiful couple, Neetu (a person affected by polio) and her husband, Jitendra. They met each other through a wrong number that she had dialed on her mobile phone. They started talking, and in due course of time, got to know each other better. They ended up falling in love, even without meeting each other.

Long story short, they got married and Jitendra decided to support his wife in her ministry to help people with disabilities and mobilize communities to support them.

On one occasion, they were to speak to a large group of women, who were waiting for them in a hall on the second floor. Jitendra drove his wife Neetu there on his scooter, and then carried her up the flight of stairs in his arms and placed her on the chair from where she was to speak to the group. After seating her on the chair, Jitendra looked up. All the women in the room were weeping. “Why are you crying?” he asked them, “We are here to teach you.” The group leader stood up and between sobs said to him, “You don’t have to teach us. We already got your message. The lesson from your personal example is enough inspiration for all of us.”

Sometimes unintentional actions speak volumes more than a long lecture with many carefully designed lesson plans. The heart speaks louder than words!

We are blessed to have partners like Nita and Jitendra.

And now these three remain faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13:13