my footprints

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

We all have our abilities, strengths and gifts, as well as our weaknesses, limitations and disabilities. Some abilities and disabilities are more apparent and visible and some are more invisible and hidden. Many of us have managed to highlight and build on our abilities to the point that we are seen as visibly contributing to our community. Yet on the other hand, many of us have also managed to downplay our disablities like entering into areas of responsibilites where our weaknesses or limitations receive little or no attention and little opportunity to emerge or be evident.

There is a difference between 'gifts' and 'talents'. Although many of us have few talents, we all have many gifts even though we may not see ourselves that way. According to a famous professor in sociology, "our gifts are the many ways in which we express our humanity. They are part of who we are: friendship, kindness, patience, joy, peave, forgiveness, gentleness, love, hope, trust, and many others".

Sometimes we as typically developing people, do not seem to recognise the humanity in us to the extent of being in the centre of ourselves. It is saddening to see how we exclude others who seem to be inferior compared to our abilities. We boast of what we can do and focus too much on our self worth. We ignore because we do not want to have anything to do with things. We exclude because we do not know what to do.

Something close to my heart led me to thinking of how predominant exceptional children are regarded in our local community. To some people, children with special needs may not be seen to possess talents they can boast of. To the society at large, they may be viewed as unable to make significant contributions that allow them to earn a good living or compete on the open market. But those who reach out, teach and care for them daily, will be able to recognise their many gifts.

Children with special needs are often shunned and regarded as abnormal beings. Hence, many people see them as outcasts. But in my opinion, i think they are beautiful. Beautiful because God has created who they are and how they would be. And like all of us, they are God's beloved children who are wonderfully created and blessed with tremendous gifts to share with others. Sit down with them and understand who they really are. Their humanity is not difficult to comprehend. In fact, I feel they are more real than any of us. Simply because they do not hide behind facades and they teach us "normal people" how to love one another for who we really are.

Apart from this, many of us do have giftings. Talents may not really matter but gifts do. Yet at times, we do not use them the way God wants us to. We hinder our gifts, we forget our humanity and we lose ourselves along the way. Gifts are meant to be shared and blessed, not to be kept and be dusted out every once in a blue mood. It is time to resurface those hidden gifts. It is time to check our hearts and how much we have been living in the centre of ourselves.

*This post is inspired by an encounter with a 4 year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder.

she pens down @ 12:11 AM --------------------------------------------------------------