Hi everyone! So, I have a bit of a guilty pleasure.
I’m just slightly obsessed with celebrity gossip.
Please no judgment, but I’m definitely that person holding up the grocery line because I got distracted by some sleazy tabloid magazine.
As you probably know, celebrity news isn’t often very wholesome, but today I want to share with you a story that really inspired me.
You may or may not know the actor Ashton Kutcher.
He is best known for his roles in That’s So 70’s Show, Jobs, Punked, and a slew of romantic comedies. If you didn’t know that then you definitely didn’t know that Ashton Kutcher has a twin brother named Michael Kutcher.
Michael isn’t an actor like his brother and he isn’t as well known, but he has had a great impact on the disability community.
Today, I read an article about how Michael’s actor brother, Ashton, greatly affected his life through a simple interview.
Around 17 years ago Ashton revealed in an interview that his twin brother Michael had cerebral palsy.
Ashton, while only having good intentions, hurt Michael by revealing this information.
“I was very angry. Very angry. I remember speaking to him about it, I didn’t want to be the face of CP. I never talked about it.” Michael said of the incident.
He felt that he didn’t want the burden of being the representative of something that he hadn’t even accepted in himself.
That was until Michael was reached out to by a mother asking him to speak at a gala for cerebral palsy. His hesitation changed when he met the woman’s young daughter named Bella.
Bella also had cerebral palsy, and Michael realized that he wanted to accept himself so people like Bella could also find acceptance.
“I realized I needed to let go of the shame I felt and be a champion for people like Bella,” Michael said. “I was finally ready to tell my story and I knew because of my twin, I’d have a big reach.”
Michael Kutcher went on to become a spokesperson for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and also an advisor for an app called Joshin, which helps families find caregivers for their loved ones with disabilities.
In other words, Michael became an advocate.
What does it even mean to be an advocate?
While discussing celebrities you may think it’s got something to do with promoting some product, or politician, or ideology. I think the best way to define an advocate is to look at Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:1 says,
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Christ stands in our place for our sins. He is a spokesperson for us to God.
Similar to what Michael said, Jesus is a champion for us.
Michael’s story made me think about how Jesus is also an advocate for the small people people on the world who may not be able to advocate for themselves.
Jesus spoke to and loved on lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and all of the rejected in society.
If Jesus was alive today, who would be the “rejected” he would reach out to? Are we advocating for these people? Better yet, are we advocating for God?
I know I don’t do it like I should.
Let us be like Michael, but more importantly like Jesus and advocate for those around us. Let us stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.
Not only that, let us empower them through God’s love to advocate for themselves.
Michael spoke about how shame and lack of acceptance kept him from being an advocate. What’s holding you back?
I know for myself, I’ll admit I let my insecurities get in the way of sharing God’s love. I become way too focused on myself rather than the Lord.
Michael’s story and Jesus’ love have inspired me today to put aside my insecurities and become an advocate.
Like Michael, I am also very passionate about the community of individuals with disabilities.
What and who are you passionate about? Who do you know that you can champion?
Find out and become an advocate for them like Jesus was for you. Don’t be afraid to be a champion and an advocate for God’s love!
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