To The Handicapped By Dr. Jack Hyles

On Sunday morning sitting on the platform I
looked out over our congregation to love my
people. I looked over to the deaf people,
then to the blind, then to the retarded and
others; I love them andrealized the things
they cannot enjoy. Suddenly it dawned on me
there are special things that they CAN enjoy.
The next day, whilesitting in a motel room in
Hagerstown, Maryland, I wrote the following
words to the handicapped:

YOU ARE DEAF
You CANNOT hear
the whipperwill
The orphaned rill,
The gossipy Bob While;
Your loved one's voice,
Mom Nature's noise.
The cricket's tune at night;
The dripping rain,
The choir's refrain,
"I love you, from a friend;
The Baby's goo
His "I wuv oo-oo";
The whistle of the wind.

You NEED NOT hear
A sufferer's cry
Bereavement's sigh,
Or words of hate and blame;
Complainers whine,
Or gripers pine,
Or cursing of God's name.

But, you CAN hear
Your Father tell
His "Peace be still",
The language of the soul,
"Son, do My will,
And serve me till
The rapture makes you whole.
Can be your choice
To hear My Voice
Until yor race is run;
You can draw sigh
Not hindered by
the static of the tongue."

YOU ARE BLIND.
You CANNOT see
the stars at night,
The moon's soft light,
A busy mountain stream;
A daffodil,
A friendly hill,
A lover's eyelight gleam;
A pretty face
Some dainty lace,
A nervous autumn leaves;
The peacock's fan,
The desert sand,
The golden harvest sheaves.

You NEED NOT see
A bloody crash,
Or messy trash,
A world destroyed by man;
A dirty book
A bitter look,
A messy garbage can;
A stormy cloud,
A quiet shoud,
The sullen cynic's frown;
The lewd, the rude,
The nude, the crude,
The filthy part of town.

You ARE NOT hampered by
Two healthy eyes
Employed by those who're whole,
Which oft incur
A hazy blur
To vision by the soul.

But you CAN see
Sweet Jesus' face,
Salvation's grace,
And dreams of having sight;
And you CAN view
Some truths that few
Can see who walk in light.

And you CAN see
Eternity
When kneeling on the floor;
You CAN see stars
As far as Mars
When staggered by a door.

YOU ARE MUTE.
You CANNOT SPEAK
A word of cheer,
"I love you dear,"
A sermon from the Book;
But you CAN smile a little while,
A give a loving look.

And you CAN speak
With warm embrace,
A happy face,
A squeezing of the hand;
To God above
You can speak love,
And do the best you can.

YOU ARE THE EDUCABLE SLOW,
You DO NOT KNOW
What isn't so,
The theory of evolution;
The professor said
That God is dead,
And we need revolution.

You CAN know
His perfect will,
Salvation's thrill,
That Heaven is you own;
And know the way
To kneel and pray,
And linger at His throne.

You CAN know
From here below,
That Jesus died for you;
And understand,
And hold His hand
Until His face you view.

YOU ARE POOR
You CAN'T AFFORD
The sleeping pills,
And liquor's ills
Tomorrow morning pain;
The cocktail sip,
The addict's trip
The misery of gain.

You CAN afford
Salvation free,
And liberty,
The blessedness of health;
To you CAN come
Deliverance from
The poverty of wealth.