I have a theory.  I think Mozart, one of the most popular composers of all time, had either autism or ADHD.  Scoff all you want, but the more I study him and his amazing abilities, we see he was different. How many people do you know-

Were writing compositions by the age of 6,

Wrote their first mass at age 12,

Wrote their first opera by 14,

Are able to write out whole scores from memory?

The list goes on. I can’t seem to grasp any other explanation for this genius.

I will not argue over all the ‘causes’ in the surge of special needs in the United States today.  Everyone has their opinion and growing up with a severely autistic brother, I have quite a few.  Here is one opinion:

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.  He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam”. So the man went and washed and came back seeing! John 9:1-7 NLT

We live in a culture not in need. Medicines, food, unemployment benefits, education are all in easy access. Kids have more money, material items, and resources than ever before in history. The list goes on of what is accessible to us today in America.  What’s left for us to rely on God for?

We spend so much of our time trying to ‘fix’ children with special needs, but did we ever stop to think that maybe that child was put here to ‘fix’ us?  I’m not wanting to offend anyone and say there is something wrong with you but let’s get real and spiritual here- we’re all fallen.  We’re all in need of a savoir and are working out our sanctification every day.  We have this belief in our culture that if a child has autism, ADHD, ODD, OCC, ACDC- or whatever label you want to use, that either we messed them up somehow, or God is punishing us.  What if He is trying to make us more like Him?  What if the child in our lives who is incredibly quirky is meant to draw us closer to Him? That it might not be sin, but they are meant to glorify Jesus?

Your child may not even have a medical label, but a label that others have given.  Rambunctious, out of control, spoiled, hyper, fill in the blank.  I’m not saying that quirks are ever an excuse to be rude or lack in discipline.  Or that they’re not exhausting and inconvenient. What I am saying is we instead ask ourselves, is the annoyance I see in this child a character flaw, or is it a gift? And if it is a gift, how do we as parents and ministers channel it in the right direction?  If that to which we see as strange and not ‘normal’ is suppressed, we could be robbing the world of something great; a Mozart perhaps?  We could be robbing that child to bring glory to Jesus.  AND we could be robbing ourselves to become more like Jesus.

In his book Different, Nathan Clarkson says this,

“All too often, in a culture that demands conformity, we try to suppress the traits that just  don’t fit in, when in reality the things that make us different can be the things that make us beautiful, and are the traits that God wants to use in our lives to bring strength to others and reflect His beauty.”

Nathan has spent his whole life with OCD, ADHD, and ODD. He is now a Christian man thriving as an actor, writer, and producer. It’s because of his ‘differences’ and his out-of-the-box thinking that has made him the success he is.

I leave you with this thought:  In my children’s ministry I have several special needs kids and kids with the ‘bad kid’ label all because they are busy and learn different.  I have noticed a common theme among them.  They are evangelistic.  They love Jesus and are not afraid to show it.  A few of them I feel are called to preach.

Why?  Why would God use a child with special needs to preach and share the gospel?  Because people will listen to them.  All the talking heads on TV and radio with their super smart degrees destroying each other are not changing anyone’s minds; they’re just getting angrier. ‘Intelligence’ doesn’t mean much anyone.  But an adult (or even child) with quirks, labels- people will listen.

Will you listen?  When you see a child not adapting to your way of learning, will you listen?  When you see a child acting out, will you listen?  Will you see the different child in your life as a source of learning unconditional love and grace?  Will you help channel their differences in the direction that will bring glory to Jesus’s name?

PRAY WITH ME

“Lord, I understand you have made us all different.  Forgive me where I have tried to suppress differences in the child in my life because it is hard and inconvenient.  I pray that you, Lord will give me strength.  Carry me through as I am struggling with the differences that are around me.  Thank you for the glory you are going to bring to (insert child’s name) life because of how you created them.”

Here are some great resources for further reading:

Eight Great Smarts by Kathy Koch

Different by Sally and Nathan Clarkson

The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias