Spiritual ADHD

Hi Friends! If you’ve been reading any amount of time, you may know that my work, since leaving the military, has been with children and families. Also, I’m a mother of 3 (teenage) children.

I’ve come across families and children of various backgrounds, beliefs, and socioeconomic status. Now, this combined with my experiences with my own children means that I have seen quite a bit…

I don’t know if any of you have any experience with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder), however, I’ve become quite acquainted with ADHD in adults, adolescents, and children. One characteristic that stands out to me is how easily a person with ADHD can forget.

The forgetfulness extends to conversations (while having them), directives/request, homework, etc…

Recently, I requested my son to complete a household chore. As he was headed to execute the task, he forgot! Maybe it’s just my son, but do mothers of teen males often hear, “Ugh, sorry, I forgot.” Or is it just me and my son?

After his most recent forgetfulness attack, I was reminded of the following verse: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:22-25 KJV

Many times, I have peered at myself in the mirror before leaving the house, only to forget how I looked before leaving. Someone makes a comment about my hair or bow or something to that effect and I have no idea what they’re talking about! Does that happen to anyone other than myself?

Forgetting my exterior appearance as soon as I walk away is one thing – but, when we are like this with regard to our faith, the Word of God, teachings from God… We have a problem.

We can have spiritual ADHD. We must remember the teachings from God. We must hide His Word in our hearts that we do not sin against God.

We must not forget.

I’m reminded of Jesus’s parable regarding the seeds. We must ensure that our soil is fertile for receiving the Word of God. This ensures that it won’t get plucked up or choked out. Having our soil fertile means we will be hearers and doers of the Word of God. We won’t forget. We won’t become distracted by the cares of this world, nor by offenses when they come.

We won’t walk around with spiritual ADHD – ruled by our impulses, forgetting, and restless…

*Original Image by Kaybee05