I work with an array of patients with several different disabilities on a daily basis. I have clients who suffer from autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, frail genetic conditions, and a slew of other medical complications. When you are a clinician, you do not only treat the illness but your job is to counsel families as well. Families who are hurt. Families whose lives have been impacted by the challenges they face with their loved one(s). It’s a sensitive subject to tell a family that your child has ASD. First of all, a medical doctor diagnoses the condition and I consult with the families to help their child communicate and function to the best of their ability in the home environment. When I first met my husband, he shared with me a bible verse that I will never forget. The holy passage from the Old Testament states this:
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6 NIV
My husband would always say, “by His wounds, we were healed,” which changes the meaning of the words if taken out of context. If you are familiar with the main principles of Christianity, one would understand that we already are and have the opportunity to be healed every day if we have faith. All of this came to me when I went to church today and heard the Gospel.
Gospel
Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
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God heals all of those who are sick, mentally, physically, and disabled. God has the power to change hearts and also cure illnesses. It is when we have little faith and doubt ourselves, our faith, our trust, and our intuition, that we fall and continue to fall unless picked up by somebody else. Happy Sunday to you all. Please leave in the comments if you have a special request related to speech-language pathology that you would like me to cover next post or even if you just have questions for me.
Be Well and Be Happy! :)