Parents who have retarded children, must not feel sad for them, because their souls are already saved. On the contrary, they must be happy, because their children, without making any efforts, have earned paradise. What else can parents wish for their children? If they face their child's defect in a spiritual way, they are also benefited and rewarded by God.
Reference: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, p 138
Thank you for posting this...how true! We should constantly be reminded of the beauty of this example.
ReplyDeleteMy brother is mentally handicapped and Elder Paisius said this exact same thing to my father in 1984 (more or less).
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