When I was first asked to consider being the director for the Willow Friend’s production, my first thought was, “Huh? Why would you ask me?” I had no real experience working with people who have disabilities, and I found myself sitting in some fear. Fear had bubbled up when thinking about the Director role, but I knew was there long before from past avoidance. Fear, such as, “What if I don’t know how to interact with some of the people and their disability? What if I don’t understand the disability and offend them?” And selfishly, I thought, “What if I’m uncomfortable around people and their disabilities.”
Most often, it’s our fears that cause us to say “no” or shut ourselves off. We protect ourselves, and, in my experience, we close ourselves off from God. It’s in those fearful moments that the evil one pulls us farther away from God. God asks us to look past the fear, to trust and lean into Him.
So, friends, I leaned in. I leaned into God, and He showed me the gift of Willow Friends. It’s the cast in front of you today that has shown joy, grace, and love that could only come from our Heavenly Father. I have never experienced anything like it before. Their faith is pure and good, and their strength rests only in God. Through the play, God has used them to transform my heart and faith. Each person is a gift to me, and I almost missed out.
Willow, don’t miss it.
This. Is. Your. Time.
Lean in.
Don’t let your fears get in the way of missing out on a transformational experience with Willow Friends. Watch the show today, interact with the cast afterward, open your heart to God, and get ready for Him to do good work in you.
Blessings,
Kerri Mahla
