by Steve Hale
"The spirit of man can endure his sickness, But a broken spitit who can bear" ( Proverbs 18:14)?
Gatty Bates died a few days ago at the age of 72. What's so unique about Gatty is that he lived 72 years with Down's Syndrome.
That's unheard of...I'm not sure I've heard of anyone living more than 40 years with Down's Syndrome. Gatty taught me a lot...
1. Love is powerful. Jacob labored for Rachel for seven years, but they seemed like a few days because of his love for her ( Genesis 29:20). Love is one reason Gatty lived so long.
His sweet mother, Ruby, cared for him until her death at the age of 90 in 1976. Since then, Ruby Pearl, Lillian, Irene, and W.T. took turns with his care. Nurses and other medical personnel came to see him while he was in the hospital.
2. Keep life simple. Gatty was happy with simple things...a visit, a game, some attention. Life's like that, and people are good medicine! "A joyful heart makes a cheeful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken" ( Proverbs 15:13).
Those of us that are "normal" can sure complicate life. We get entangled in our own decelt and wickedness. An innocent soul, like Gatty, keeps life simple. It's better that way! James said: "double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" ( James 1:8). Keep life simple by avoiding temptations and sin ( 1 Corinthians 15:33). Brother Gus Nichols used to say: "Sin is like grapes -- it comes in clusters!"
3. Human life is sacred. "There are six things in which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood..." ( Proverbs 6:16-17).
The quality-of-life ethicists say people like Gatty aren't worthy of life. Lacking the sufficient quality of life, that should be termed non-human and destroyed.
Abortion is justified by these same ethicists because such, people do not yet have sufficient quality of life. When older people no longer have such quality, they too are termed non-human and destroyed.
This quality-of-life ethic was tried about fifty years ago in the Third Reich! It was wrong and an abomination. It's still an abomination! Where would our Helen Kellers Ray Charles and Franklin Roosevelt be? And, our Gatty Bates? Thanks Gatty...you taught me alot!