Special Needs Children

For the past month and a half I've been preaching a series on the topic of "spiritual adoption." Therefore, on Monday October 1, 2009 while watching NBC's Today Show I was intrigued by Matt Lauer's interview of a woman who had decided to give up her adopted baby after 18 months. Her reason for giving up the child was her inability to bond with him. However, it became clear during the interview that her child had some special needs that she and her family felt incapable of handling. The mother told Matt Lauer. "I tried to do the same exact thing I did with my biological children, but over time it became clear that our family maybe wasn't a good match for him, that we were unable to meet some of his needs."

It might be rare for adoptive parents to give up a newly adopted child, but it is not unusual for prospective adoptive parents to reject "special needs" children. Whether a child is adopted or ours by birth, there's no guarantee that we will have a child with no problems. The truth is that every child has "special needs." And children with "special needs" grow up to be adults with "specials needs."

Therefore, like it or not, we were all "special needs" children, including you, when God chose to adopt us into His family. The Bible says,

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose [those] the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose [those] that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose [those] despised by the world, [those] counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.[1]

This fact is not meant to be a putdown, but should be a sobering revelation to those with inflated egos and an encouraging eye-opener to those with poor self-images. Everything we are and everything we will become is because of Christ. "Everything that we have-right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start-comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.""[2] And in light of this we ought to be full of praise and thanksgiving in knowing that God that did not choose to reject us but chose to adopt us because of our "special needs."

Therefore, God's family (the Church) is ultimately an entire family of adopted "special needs" children. We can think of it this way. Each individual church (your church, my church, and every other church) is a group home filled with God's "special needs" children. And if you've been in the church as long as I have, you know that this image is not far from reality.

Adoptive parents who bravely and unselfishly choose "special needs" children hope to do more than just love them and care for their disabilities. Their ultimate goal is to enable their "special needs" child to reach his or her full potential. Likewise, God chose us with all of our special needs knowing that He "is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think" possible.[3]

Therefore this week, don't be taken when you encounter a brother or sister in Christ who doesn't seem to come up to your standards. Their shortcoming might just be one of their "special needs." As well this week, don't be ashamed or afraid to embrace your disabilities. Embrace your weaknesses. Embrace your afflictions. Embrace the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles. Embrace your special needs in order that God's love, power and potential might be fully released in your life.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.[4]

[1] 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT)
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (Message)
[3] Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
[4] 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NLT)

Mr. Potato Head

Every time I see Bridgestone Tire's "Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head" commercial, I am reminded of my "Mr. Potato Head" toy. Believe it or not, Mr. Potato Head was actually the first toy to be advertised on television. Although I don't remember the original commercial or whatever happened to my Mr. Potato Head, I'll never forget the events leading up to its purchase.

I was about seven or eight years old and had received a dollar as an allowance. Since this was the first time I had received that large of an amount for an allowance, I felt compelled to show it off to my friends. While outside tempting my friends to succumb to the green-eyed monster, my mother called me into the house to wash up so we could go to the mall. Which at the time Mondawmin Mall was the only indoor mall in the Baltimore area. Both Reisterstown and Westview were still outdoor shopping centers.

After taking a bath and getting dressed I searched the pockets of the pants I had worn earlier that day, only to discover that my dollar bill was missing. I assumed that I had somehow lost it while showing it off to my friends. Now feeling guilty for bragging, I figured I had learned my lesson.

To avoid both admitting to my mother that I had lost my allowance and the consequences of my actions, I came up with the brilliant idea that I would replace the dollar by stealing one from her pocketbook. (Now you're thinking, 'bad idea.' But remember, I was only seven or eight at the time.)However, the challenge was getting into my mother's purse without her seeing me. Since she customarily drove with her pocketbook on the floor in the back of the car, I figured I could take it while we were traveling to the mall. Of course, I normally road shotgun since I was the only child in the home. After convincing my mother that I simply wanted to ride in the back seat for a change, I was now in position to carry out my first attempt at pickpocketing. And like a professional thief I lifted that dollar out of her pocketbook without detection. My con was now successfully completed; so I thought.

As my mother and I searched the toy section of the 5 and 10 cent store for the appropriate item to spend my stolen dollar on, I discovered the Mr. Potato Head game. With Mr. Potato Head in hand, I proceeded to the checkout. When the cashier finished ringing up my purchase, I proudly whipped out my dollar bill and suddenly I heard my mother's voice from behind me ask, while she was opening her purse to pay the cashier, "Where did you get that dollar from?" Confidently I responded, "It's the dollar bill you gave me for my allowance." Her response was, "No it's not, I took that dollar out of your pants pocket while you were taking your bath. So where did you get that dollar from?" Now caught, I responded with my head down, "I took it out of your pocketbook while you were driving."

At that point I was prepared to return Mr. Potato Head to shelf and take my awaiting spanking and lecture on stealing. However, to my surprise my mother allowed me to purchase Mr. Potato Head and she didn't give me a spanking and I don't remember getting one of her tear-filled reprimands. She even took me over my cousins' house where my cousins and I played Mr. Potato Head.

What I experienced that day was not the wrath of Marion Thelma Wharton, but amazing grace. I had earned my mother's wrath, but instead she showed me grace. From that experience I came to realize that grace was a much more powerful deterrent to sin than the threat of punishment. That day was the first and last time that I ever stole anything from my mother. Therefore, Mr. Potato Head is more than a cute tire commercial that evokes a nostalgic memory of a childhood toy. He taught me my first lesson on grace. For me, Mr. Potato Head is a tangible sign of the unearned, undeserved, and amazing grace of God.

He Looked Beyond My Fault
Lyrics Written by- Dottie Rambo

Amazing grace shall always
be my song of praise,
for it was grace that brought my liberty;
I do not know just why He came to love me so,
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

Chorus
I shall forever life mine eyes to Calvary,
to view the cross where Jesus died for me,
how marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul;
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

Who's Your Daddy?

Since the death of Michael Jackson a number of reports have emerged questioning the paternity of his three known children. Some have even reported, including Michael’s father, that Michael had a fourth child; who was seen sitting among the family at the funeral. Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael’s former doctor and boss of Jackson’s former wife Debbie Rowe has claimed that he might be the biological father of Prince Michael Jr. and Paris. Although the paternity of Michael’s youngest son, Prince Michael, II is unknown, it has been rumored that his mother was an unknown surrogate.

Not only is it likely that Michael’s children don’t know who their real daddy is, they are now without a father, who in spite of his eccentricities was reportedly a wonderful daddy. Therefore, the important question is not, who’s their daddy? But, who’s ultimately going to raise them, now that their father is gone? Will it be Michael’s mother, Debbie Rowe, Dr. Arnold Klein, or Diana Ross? If I had a vote it would be for Janet. She doesn’t have any children, she is definitely more stable that La Toya, and her days as a musical diva are quickly coming to an end.

Several weeks ago I began a sermon series on spiritual adoption in which we are exploring the many parallels between spiritual adoption and natural adoption. The first message in the series was titled Who’s Your Daddy? From a theological perspective, adoption is the overarching Biblical metaphor for the invitation and inclusion of Gentiles into the Judeo-Christian lineage as children of God. Adoption is our pathway to redemption and the family of God. Therefore, regardless of our birth family’s structure, as Christians we are all adoptees. The Bible says,

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.[1]

Michael Jackson may have been the King of Pop and his two sons may be named Prince Michael, but as God’s adopted children there is no question about who our father is. And as children of God we have the assurance that we will never be left parentless. The psalmist David declared, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.”[2] The prophet Isaiah spoke prophetically of Jesus as a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, an everlasting Father, and a prince of peace.[3]

Whether your biological father is deceased, or you lack a relationship with him, or you are not even sure who he is; remember who your real daddy is. This week when you are faced with a major challenge or decision, remember that your daddy is available to provide you with His expert counsel. If you’re faced with an impossible situation this week, remember that your daddy is a mighty God. When life becomes chaotic this week, remember that your daddy is the Prince of Peace.

By the way, I’m glad to be back blogging again and I hope you have missed the Bishop’s Blog.

[1] Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
[2] Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)
[3] Isaiah 9:6