Healing instead of a cure?

[CHSlater]

Hello friends. I married my wife ten years ago, and when we had children, we discovered that my two oldest sons have Autism Spectrum Disorders. My oldest is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and my second with Autism. Recently, my wife was also diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. I discussed with my wife this subject in depth. She shares some of the sentiment that I have read in other places that Autism spectrum disorders are actually a gift from God, not really a disease or anything like that. However, I have always believed what the Bible says about healing for our bodies and minds and souls. I automatically thought that meant that even something like Autism and Asperger Syndrome falls into the category of things that God can heal us of. My wife takes offense to the thought. I know many are looking for a cure, but I don't care for that. Cures are man made. I want to see people healed by God. I mean, I still love my wife and will always love and care for her, no matter what, whether she is healed or not, so don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade my wife for anyone. But I'm torn by this thought. Is Autism and Asperger really a gift from God, or is it actually a disorder or syndrome as society has called it, and thus something that God can heal us of?

 

[vespasia]

This is HOW God created her.

We are all made in HIS image; we are not God but each one of us is made in His image.

Someone who is aspie will show you another aspect of the awesome wonderous and infinate uncreated God who made us.

It is not aspergers that is 'disabling' so much as how other people can respond to it. I suggest maybe take some time alone in that quite place with God and chat with him about how you feel about your wife being an aspie.

Have a look at the Aspie Criteria by Dr Tony Attwood and carol Grey a free to view online version is here.
http://www.autismawarenesscentre.or...er-syndrome/the-discovery-of-aspie-cri-2.html

Hope that helps.

 

[CHSlater]

Please, I'm not trying to be argumentative, it's just that I'm not sure I understand it. Some people are born with obvious defects to their bodies and other problems that can threaten their ability to function well in society. One could argue that the defects were part of God's plans, because they were born that way. Does that mean that there is no grace from God for change? Of course not. Most people will have those problems likely dealt with in surgical procedures, but that doesn't mean there was no grace available for healing.

Likewise, homosexuals often argue that they were "born that way." Yet, I know of prople who no longer live that way.

How is Autism and Aspergers different?

 

[vespasia]

Your writing does not come across as a person trying to argue, it comes across as a person who loves his wife and family who is trying to understand and does long for the best.

Asperger's and autism is for life, it is not a lifestyle 'choice' or something that appears later except if a person is unfortunate enough to receive some type of 'brain damage' that affect the areas of the brain that control communication, social awareness and imagination.
It is what you are born with regardless of social economic status. It affects all cultures, societies, ethnic groups and so on.


Babies born with it develop with an 'atypical developmental pattern' thanks to the 'triad of impairments' which begin to clearly show from 18 months onwards. More experienced parents can spot the 'indications' from birth often expressed as 'this baby does not 'feel ' right. The degree of how a person is affected can vary from 'loveable eccentric' to profoundly withdrawn, none communicative and with severe learning difficulties. Hence the use of the word 'spectrum' in the phrase autism spectrum disorder. A person with ASD can be ANYWHERE in that spectrum from the most mildly affected to the most profoundly affected.

Their brains do seem to be wired together differently. Just because you cannot physically see the difference in the brain structure it does not mean it is not there hence the tag line 'ASD - the hidden disability'

http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc/default.asp

Is there anyone at your church , maybe a trusted male friend, you would feel comfortable chatting this through with and praying with?

Most 'aspies' get distressed when people pray for 'healing' unless they instigate the request for as to them it implies God must have made a mistake to make them as they are when many believe they are made in His image too, its just an image from a different perspective than the one most people have.

 

[Sabertooth]

I have AS. From where I sit, some parts seem to be God's unique design and some associated parts, like my HFA DS's & non-verbal DD's failure to mature are genuine signs of retardation. This is often attributed to comorbid conditions, so be it.

Maturing while seeing and thinking DIFFERENTLY than NTs is not necessarily a disorder, but failing to mature by ANY standard is certainly indicative of one. My 20yo DS's mental age is approximately 6-10yo. My 13yo DD's is under 2yo.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

on channel 11 oeta in tulsa, out of okc maybe, was a stateline show about alternative medicine (why it's called 'alternative' I don't know - it was here for thousands of years before poisons)
...

one of the segments described how 2 children unrelated to each other were cured of 80% autism,
one unexpectedly by a diagnostic small injection of enzymes and the other
a doctors son whom he gave the enzymes on purpose to see if it actually worked.

the doctors and officials said this was the first accepted hopeful cure for others with autism and they planned to test it on 1200 children nationwide.

(the cost is about $30 per month over the counter, so the druggies don't actually embrace it; but from news on the internet it has been extremely successful anyway)

 

[Debi1967]

Recovery is a place for Christian peer support and help and not for professional care. Therefore these things are considered off topic:

• Promoting yourself as an expert
• Diagnosing
• Offering treatment of any kind to other members
• Prescribing over the counter remedies
• Discouraging someone from taking prescribed medications, getting professional services or using hotlines or crisis lines
• Discouraging the use of the Christian faith to cope with problems and struggles.

 

[bipolarbear]

Well, This is slightly of topic, but in the same thought I think... I have Bipolar. I take meds, adn our son who has Aspergers is on meds for ADHD, adn our daughter has ADD and is on meds. My Beloved is Diabetic, adn on an insulan pump.... Can God "heal us," yes! Has He? No. He made each of us uniquely special, and perfect in His eyes! Our other son, He is "normal" but I know God made him special too!

I have found that by having Bipolar, I am more emotional, adn that carries over into my prayers... I see good in that, adn I am thankful for being able to pray that way! It exhausts me, adn drains me emotionally, but that is how I have known to pray... In our brokenness, He makes us complete! God bless!

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Indeed,as you also are living through, it was in the hardest times, 'medically' and financially, that I learned how dependable Yahweh always is without fail.

 

[HazelAngel]

Bipolarbear and CHSlater maybe God made us different that means we can experience what other people live through. AS, Bipolar, Autism, ADHD, Diabetes and ADD r different things but they r kinda alike from a different persons way of thinking but maybe God was ment for us to not be healed but to carry on life the way we are, have u ever thought of that for one minute or so??

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Hello friends. I married my wife ten years ago, and when we had children, we discovered that my two oldest sons have Autism Spectrum Disorders. My oldest is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and my second with Autism. Recently, my wife was also diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. I discussed with my wife this subject in depth. She shares some of the sentiment that I have read in other places that Autism spectrum disorders are actually a gift from God, not really a disease or anything like that. However, I have always believed what the Bible says about healing for our bodies and minds and souls. I automatically thought that meant that even something like Autism and Asperger Syndrome falls into the category of things that God can heal us of. My wife takes offense to the thought. I know many are looking for a cure, but I don't care for that. Cures are man made. I want to see people healed by God. I mean, I still love my wife and will always love and care for her, no matter what, whether she is healed or not, so don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade my wife for anyone. But I'm torn by this thought. Is Autism and Asperger really a gift from God, or is it actually a disorder or syndrome as society has called it, and thus something that God can heal us of?

a simple test will tell you,
it takes about 25 hours to get results back.
the test costs about 55intheusa and is non-intrusive,
and if the tester has at least a 3rd grade
edutcation
the results of the test will be more helpful than 3 years of testing that you're used to.