The Spirit of God Hovered

I can't remember who, but I know it was when I was younger that I heard someone say that they wondered what those people did to conceive a mentally handicapped kid.  They made it sound like the parents committed an awful sin that they were summoned to life with this burden of a child they would have to take care of.  I never really understood why people had children with handicaps and why God would do that to people.   I never believed that the people had committed a sin, but growing up in the church I heard that often.

"If God's image implies personhood, then humanity,
indeed, the Church, seems to have interpreted human creation only in
terms of those considered the able bodied."

I agree with this you don't see many churches at all the have any type of ministry for the mentally handicapped.  The Church should be the ones helping and caring for people and they don't even considered the handicapped people. There are many homeless ministries and nursing home ministries, but really nothing out there for the mentally handicapped.  I don't know if it is because they believe there demonized or think they were created because sin, but the Church should help and make more programs for people that are mentally handicapped.

"If our pneumatology can
begin with conception and birth, then those who are not high on the
hierarchy of giftedness or significance in the way normally
understood can be appreciated for the way God has created them and
given them their unique 'life force.'"

I like that this proves how these people are not mistakes.  God doesn't make mistakes.  Mentally handicapped people are also made in God's eyes, just because they can't do everything others can doesn't mean God messed up.  Nobody is perfect, but that doesn't mean God forgot or didn't put His Spirit in us.  If people would just realize that everyone is made in God's image then maybe there would be more programs for the mentally handicapped through the church and people wouldn't have to worry so much about the funds coming into government sponsored programs.