Gifts of the Disabled

Porpoise

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What sort of spiritual gifts are available to the severely disabled, who have either very limited or no ability to work, serve, interact or communicate with others, read books, produce works of art, or even pray?
 

yeshuaslavejeff

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What sort of spiritual gifts are available to the severely disabled, who have either very limited or no ability to work, serve, interact or communicate with others, read books, produce works of art, or even pray?
Salvation, Eternal Life. Peace. Joy. Righteousness. All in Jesus Christ our Savior.
 
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Blade

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Forgive me.. its not our gifts but the sweet sweet Holy Spirits. And.. from what know He has no limit..there is NOTHING He can not do :)... I would be saying. HERE I AM! USE ME! and HOLD ON! JESUS I LORD! Just BELIEVE
 
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Porpoise

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Salvation, Eternal Life. Peace. Joy. Righteousness. All in Jesus Christ our Savior.

I was asking about spiritual gifts or charisms, such as administration, mercy, giving, exhortation, etc. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
 
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Southernscotty

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I was asking about spiritual gifts or charisms, such as administration, mercy, giving, exhortation, etc. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Be a prayer warrior. How about being a CF prayer Angel?
 
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anna ~ grace

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What sort of spiritual gifts are available to the severely disabled, who have either very limited or no ability to work, serve, interact or communicate with others, read books, produce works of art, or even pray?
I have noticed that many disabled folks, especially the mentally challenged, are some of the most loving, generous folks that I have met.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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I was asking about spiritual gifts or charisms, such as administration, mercy, giving, exhortation, etc. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
No worries. Spiritual 'gifts' are often mistaken as if they are something given outside of or separate from Jesus and all His Fullness in Salvation.
Abiding in Jesus, He may do all things as the Father directs.
He 'IS' Healing, He 'IS' our wisdom, and so on for all that He 'IS', without itemizing. He does what the Father directs, and teaches us also so to do. Much more simple than man's directions most of the time.
 
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StrivingFollower

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Paul said he used to ask God why he had to live with so much misfortune, he asked if he couldn't be better at his job with smoother paths. And then he realized that he was strongest when he was at his weakest, because no longer could he be deceived by his sinful nature. Settle for the easy joys, now.. he had no choice but to face reality. He could see clearly that the best good feeling to feel is in worshipping God. In the Bible there are so many stories of people doing things that should be impossible.

Imagine that Moses was 80 years old when he was chosen by God to be a prophet. And he had one of the most spectacular jobs. If you commit yourself to God over and over again, trusting him when you fail.. that you'll get back up with small bit of new knowledge, that you'll be less afraid of failure. And you'll actually appreciate it for showing you the true limits of your toughness. God is with you every step of the way on your painful fight, thinking of things to teach you. We can embrace this.

You know why God chose Moses? Because due to his unique circumstances, he was a very humble guy. We won't all be given the gifts of Moses, but at least we can inspire those around us, as we grow a little more and more. And the more we dedicate ourselves to God, the more reasons we'll give him for giving us nice gifts. But really at this point I can't help but feel incredibly blessed. I know that God is trying to make me incredibly strong and wise by giving me these frightening trials. How could I not feel blessed? I keep telling myself he knows I'll get through this.

He knows I'll feel like I went through all of Hell, and I'll just think "wow that was an interesting journey" instead of "good grief, what was that?" No matter how well I handle these tests, I'm glad that these dark points show me the strength of God.. show me all that he does and all he endures. And there's nothing better than looking into the pure heart of God.
 
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teresa

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An idea to share is one that I am currently doing...

Go to your parish website and open the parish bulletin which lists the members who are requesting prayer, and then pray for them...

I think this is a gift of mercy and also of faith...

When you are online here, praying for and encouraging other CF members would be exhortation.

Scotty is right that being a prayer angel might be a great ministry for you.

Praying silently and also using text that you type would remove any exertion from speaking out loud when you pray.

(I listen to daily prayers online and silently pray along)
 
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John Bowen

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What sort of spiritual gifts are available to the severely disabled, who have either very limited or no ability to work, serve, interact or communicate with others, read books, produce works of art, or even pray?
The gift of being a example to others . That whatever disability a person has it doesn't have to define that person .They can still live a fulling life .
 
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Porpoise

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The gift of being a example to others . That whatever disability a person has it doesn't have to define that person .They can still live a fulling life .
I have noticed that many disabled folks, especially the mentally challenged, are some of the most loving, generous folks that I have met.

I agree that many with disabilities are loving and generous. However, in my case I am even prevented from that. I can't do acts of kindness or demonstrations of love or be an example to others because I am mostly unable to interact with people. I tried going to a bible study last night, but the cognitive part of my condition prevented me from hearing/understanding what they were saying. We were going over the homework and I wanted to hear the answers but I couldn't catch them. I caught almost nothing of the whole discussion, it was as if they were speaking a foreign language. It is often like this for me.

Another time, I was feeling more energetic than usual so I tried hanging out with someone for an hour or two. The next day, I was so exhausted that I felt intensely awful and couldn't bring myself to respond to messages, it was like I was magnetically repelled. It took days to recover.

An idea to share is one that I am currently doing...

Go to your parish website and open the parish bulletin which lists the members who are requesting prayer, and then pray for them...

I think this is a gift of mercy and also of faith...

When you are online here, praying for and encouraging other CF members would be exhortation.

Scotty is right that being a prayer angel might be a great ministry for you.

Praying silently and also using text that you type would remove any exertion from speaking out loud when you pray.

(I listen to daily prayers online and silently pray along)

That's a good point. I am able to pray a little bit, usually more than I can do other things. But I'm still pretty limited. When I start getting into a daily routine, I can burn out really quickly, causing my medical condition to worsen intensely for days. I don't usually pray out loud, but even mental prayer exhausts me.

I guess I just don't know what my role is. I don't know what I can do to serve God in this state.
 
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John Bowen

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Your Catholic so you know about Saints right . Some people take on disease , disability so others don't have to They are being a service to everybody just going through what they have to deal with .Message me if you want with your name and I will add you to my prayers for healing.
 
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Spiritlight

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In many ways disabled people possess a sense of empathy with people who suffer. They may have, faith, wisdom, knowledge, teaching and mercy. Additionally, if their disability is sensory they may be able to use their other senses in a way others can’t.
 
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JICS

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I was asking about spiritual gifts or charisms, such as administration, mercy, giving, exhortation, etc. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Your original description made it sound as though you were referencing those totally disabled individuals without even any awareness of their surroundings -- individuals who can't even pray any longer? If that is the scenario then I'd hope and pray they were saved before reaching that state but would see their "gift" if that is what it could be called as giving others the opportunity to love them and be merciful and caring toward them if nothing else. People who don't understand God's mercy and love would champion euthanasia, but that is never an option for a Christian. We all have an appointed time and no one has the right to usurp His Will.
 
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geodub

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My sister has a severe disability. She knows enough about what is going on to understand salvation in the most basic sense. All she does is show up to church and give people hugs and smiles as she sees them.

Over the years I have heard how her presence and compassion has blessed so many. I would say she has a gift of compassion. She sees people as people and not as what they do or who they have been. Her ability within her disability has given her the opportunity to reach almost anyone, anywhere.

Only the Lord can define what giftings we have and operate in. I would not be one to say that a disability could prevent a person operating in a gift of love or even wisdom by simply smiling at the right person at the right time. He knows what He's doing. Love Him first.
 
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Hazelelponi

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I agree that many with disabilities are loving and generous. However, in my case I am even prevented from that. I can't do acts of kindness or demonstrations of love or be an example to others because I am mostly unable to interact with people. I tried going to a bible study last night, but the cognitive part of my condition prevented me from hearing/understanding what they were saying. We were going over the homework and I wanted to hear the answers but I couldn't catch them. I caught almost nothing of the whole discussion, it was as if they were speaking a foreign language. It is often like this for me.

Another time, I was feeling more energetic than usual so I tried hanging out with someone for an hour or two. The next day, I was so exhausted that I felt intensely awful and couldn't bring myself to respond to messages, it was like I was magnetically repelled. It took days to recover.



That's a good point. I am able to pray a little bit, usually more than I can do other things. But I'm still pretty limited. When I start getting into a daily routine, I can burn out really quickly, causing my medical condition to worsen intensely for days. I don't usually pray out loud, but even mental prayer exhausts me.

I guess I just don't know what my role is. I don't know what I can do to serve God in this state.

First, God saves us. He serves our needs. We are all, no matter how able minded or bodied, unable to serve our own needs; all of us desperately need Christ and His salvation. Nothing we do adds to that.

Although things we do can testify to the condition of our heart, they are unnecessary for God to know our heart in truth.

You have limitations most people don't have, but that is okay. Some people have a great need to be needed, and you can give some person the outlet they need, perhaps.

If praying for 5 minutes every other day for others is all you can do - then do that. Do what you are able and trust your life in His Hand. He won't let you down. And He won't ask you for more than your able to give.

He loves you. Just tell Him you love Him back and if that's all you can do, it'll be enough.
 
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DennisTate

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What sort of spiritual gifts are available to the severely disabled, who have either very limited or no ability to work, serve, interact or communicate with others, read books, produce works of art, or even pray?

Josiah's Fire by Tahni Cullen may be helpful because her son is autistic but astonishingly gifted.

She has done interviews on youtube.
 
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