Christian Family Services Ministry

12-12-2021 – A Word to the Wise – Continue on Gifts

Seven years ago, I for the first time recognized the presence of the Exhorter gift in a very young child. Its presence was discovered because of the presence of a primary trait observed in all Exhorters. Let me share the story with you. My study of the Gifts began in 1985 and from that time I used my understanding of the traits daily in my work with families in counseling. So with twenty-five years of daily observation, I was attune to the presence of different traits in conjunction with each of the gifts.

In January of 2007 my wife, Mary had just gotten a new 3-month-old child, Macie, by name to care for. As was my habit I went home early to help. As I walk in our home, I see Macie laying on a blanket on the floor. I walk over and pick her up and turn to say something to Mary. In my peripheral vision I notice Macie’s neck muscles, as she struggles to turn her head and obtain eye contact upon hearing my voice.

It is amazing this three-month-old is seeking eye contact, I cannot believe it. I know in an instance she is exhibiting the chief physical trait of an Exhorter! I see it every day in my office with other children and adults. From that point on I began to pay attention to other young children and sure enough traits of the gifts were very apparent.

To tie some of these themes together we must first point out some of the most popular traits that appear early then turn our attention to the womb. This list will not be all inclusive rather some more easy to see.

Prophet: Loud, dominant, persuasive, active.

Teacher: Inquisitive, slow, low activity, and obsessiveness

Exhorter: Inquisitive, focus on the eyes, sensitive to emotions

Server: Exploring, sound, smell, taste, touch oriented. Rejects emotions high activity.

Mercy: Quiet, highly sensitive to emotions, oriented to soothing emotions in others

Giver: Rejects emotions, materialistic, active

Organizer: Rejects emotions, search surroundings, organize surroundings

Some of the more likely types of behavior noticeable in the womb might be probably as with the adult, unemotional people are likely low in fear or anger, while emotional individuals are high in fear or anger. These traits may be seen in the womb. The gifts are not part of heritage, unless specifically designed by the Lord. Emotional stimulation will tend to occur with the Prophet, Exhorter and of course the Mercy. One would expect a child who is a Mercy being drawn to the mother’s emotions and attempt to assuage negative feelings. How would one expect this to happen? Perhaps by soothing the mother’s feelings by lack of physical activity. Perhaps by communicating to the mother through releases of certain hormones. However, the fetus would sense the emotions in the womb and just like outside would respond. Except as noted if those feeling on the mother’s part are directed towards the fetus then the fetus could reject the mother, as with the infant who rejected the mother’s breast, or even self-abort.

The gifts most responsive to physical stimulation are going to be the Server, Giver, and Organizer. Experiments have shown that the fetus hears and recognizes a great variety of sounds. The mother telling stories, singing songs, repetition of sounds. It would appear they are able to distinguish when spoken directly to in contrast to when others are addressed. These type experiments usually test the heartbeat of the fetus. Most certainly have expressed a distinct preference to Mozart which appears to soothe them as opposed to Beethoven or hard rock music which appears to disturb the fetus.

Piontelli documents a whole host of physical behaviors in her sonogram studies of both individual and twins at four different periods of the trimesters. F. Rene Van de Carr created some games between the parents and the embryo which involve kicking on command. Dr. Henry Truby, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Miami, points out the fetus hears clearly from the sixth month, and in fact moves his body rhythm to his mother’s speech. Spiritual stimulation is going to occur by several means. Reading the bible to the fetus or telling bible stories to the child is a form of spiritual stimulation. Prayer by the parents is going to be a powerful influence in the fetus’ life. Music stimulation in the form of hymns will be a major source of spiritual training.

We see examples of spiritual response with the meeting of Mary and Elisabeth when John responds in the womb to the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. ( Luke1:40ff) . Dr. Truby notes that a four- or five-month-old fetus responds to sound and melody. Playing Vivaldi, or Mozart, the fetus relaxes if agitated. If Beethoven is played the child starts kicking and moving around. What may effect in a negative manner the gifts in the womb? Physical and Emotional abuse is the most serious. One must remember that an adult through experience is able to use coping mechanisms to process painful experiences. The fetus has no such defenses. Thus, fearful or frightening experiences in the womb carve exceptional deep cut into the mind and soul of the fetus. Therefore, abuse in the womb is deeply destructive to the unborn child. Catecholamines, (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) when produced by fear or anxiety in the mother are almost immediately transmitted to the fetus.

Dr. Denis Stott after the study of 1300 children and their families reach the conclusion that parents in problem marriages ran a 237 percent greater risk of having an emotional or physically damaged child.

Chemical abuse:

Obviously, there is a greater awareness of the effects of drugs on the unborn. But sometimes the real reality of it escapes us. One study however revealed just how quickly this may happen. In a study a 30-minute baseline of fetal breathing was taken followed by 30 minutes post alcohol recording.

Each mother was given one ounce of vodka. Within three minutes all breathing and movement stopped in all the fetus and continued for several minutes.

The level of alcohol in the blood of the mother was the same as the fetus. What one ends up with is an intoxicated fetus.

In another test using ultrasound observations were made of mothers undergoing surgery. Valium was administered. Breathing and movement stopped from three minutes after injection and continued for from twenty minutes to three hours post injection. Seventy percent of the fetus had epileptic seizures. Too actually watch one of the human fetuses have seizures in the womb makes one want to cry.

Spiritual abuse

I suspect most of us have not given much thought to how a child in the womb might be spiritually abused or what it might even look like. One may be certain that any type of behavior that has one attempting to communicate with the dead, interacting with Satan, any type of witchcraft or worship of other gods will have a direct effect on the fetus. One must never forget that Satan is a powerful force in our world. Our study now returns to the earlier example of Jacob and Esau, and the material by Alessandra Piontelli beginning with the sonogram study of Maria and Beatrice.

Twins represent a way to see and compare growth in the same womb and in the same environment. With twins we have two individuals experiencing the same environment yet developing into entirely different people with different gifts. I suspect we have enough information about all four of these infants’ traits to venture guesses about their individual gifts. Jacob displays the traits seen with Givers. He is materialistic, secretive, and does not learn from his mistakes.

Esau exhibits the traits of a Server. Physically in touch with his environment, non-materialistic, fixed on the present moment instead of the long-term outcome, desire to server another. Alessandra Piontelli, details her observations of eleven fetuses in the womb using ultrasound scans. Four of the sets are twins. Our concern is with the twins, Marisa and Beatrice. Her study begins in the eighteen weeks of pregnancy going through the fourth year of age.

It is our belief that her descriptions parallel the experiences of Jacob and Esau and thus provides and understanding of the womb experience. It is our hope that the biblical and extra biblical experience will shed some light on the gifts in the womb. Observations of the twins Marisa and Beatrice begin in the eighteen weeks of pregnancy. Here are some excerpts from that ultrasound. The left fetus or Marisa kicks her sister, Beatrice in the head. Marisa is the smaller of the two, at birth she weights five pounds and seven ounces. Beatrice, weight at birth seven pounds nine ounces. During this first sonogram Marisa though smaller is seen kicking Beatrice over and over. Sometimes Beatrice fights back but for the most part retreats to the far side of the womb covering her head.

The second ultrasound takes place in the twenty-third week. Again, we find the twins fighting in the womb. Almost like a boxing match between the two. Beatrice frequently tries to push away and put distance between her and her sister. Yet Marisa, continues to pounce on Beatrice, with blows aimed at her head and neck. Frequently Beatrice retreats and curls up avoiding Marisa.

This behavior continues throughout the next two ultrasounds. Near time for delivery Marisa appears to try to force her way out of the womb leaving Beatrice in a compromised situation which threatened her life. A Caesarean was done to save her life. After birth Marisa is described as tense, serious, and fearful. Beatrice in contrast just wanted to be cuddled. As the girls grow their dispositions remain the same. Marisa, always tense and surveilling her surroundings fearful of intrusion. Beatrice however, calm, relaxed with her surroundings. Marisa intense jealous, and hatred of her sister seems to know no bounds. Whenever given the opportunity she assaults her sister. As Beatrice ages she becomes more withdrawn and passive, hiding from others.

We may well imagine from biblical descriptions the behavior of both sets of twins is similar. We suggested earlier that Jacob exhibits the traits of a Giver, while Esau the traits of a Server. Given the information available about Marisa and Beatrice, we would suggest that Marisa exhibits the traits of a Prophet, and Beatrice a Mercy. It is apparent that attributes of the gifts may be clearly seen in the womb. So how is this information to be used? Does it really make any difference to know the gift? Simply, our task is to reveal their presence in the womb and for others to study and develop it.

As an adult all one must do is examine the various relationships and how an understanding of the individual gifts makes communication more viable.

Knowing that your child is a Prophet explains certain tendencies of the child. Being loud, or when interacting with other children the tendency to lead and demand honest behavior. When misbehavior occurs the Prophet quickly tell others of that behavior whether their own or someone else. That behavior is not outlawed but must be trained. If you correct the tattle all you as a parent have accomplished is to undermine a specific trait given by the Lord to help maintain righteousness. It should be no surprise that there are other gifts the Maker bestows on the fetus. Mathematical skills like with Einstein, or musical skills as with Mozart and others. How are these to be viewed considering the Motivational Gifts?

Simply the Motivational gifts provide the framework for which all future experiences are built. Into this framework the Maker may provide other talents or gifts as he sees fit. Yet these other skills, abilities, or gifts fall within the original framework provided by the motivational gifts. Examples from scripture would be Solomon who by nature searches after wisdom finds that ability magnified. Or Jacob, the Giver, finds the Lord adds a far greater sensitivity to husbandry. Nehemiah the organizer’s ability is greatly magnified to inaugurate the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. In each circumstance the additional skill is added to the existing framework. Exodus 31 gives a taste of what this is like. First, Bezalel is given the ability, intelligence, and knowledge to design and work in gold, silver, and bronze. Bezalel is an Organizer, able to see the finished product and at the same time organize a great work with the additional gift the Lord grants him.

Again, discovering these new talents, abilities, or skills in the womb may be just as apparent when sought after as the Motivational Gifts. So we have the Motivational Gift given at conceptions which are the chief attributes which are inherent in the gift. The framework determines the degree of sensitivity to mental, physical, and emotional, situations, and how one views each of these circumstances, and finally responds to each. Within that framework one develops character traits which effect the usability of the gift. The degree, or lack of intelligence does not determine the value of the gift. Only the perseverance, training, and developed skill determines its value. All qualities are determined by the individual irrespective of status or station in life. Into this framework the Lord adds additional gifts beginning in the womb and at other time in life based on the principle of stewardship and need. Each of these additional gifts, whether natural ability, aptitude, talent, or skill is limited only by the determination of the person.

These gifts, like the Motivational gifts tend to pull the person in a direction, with an intense desire. Now truly we have come full circle. The Motivational gifts provide the framework. The additional talents abilities traits given us provide the incentive for accomplishment, and therein we see the full purpose. All these attributes are inborn in us by the Living God, that we might believe in Him, trust in the only begotten of the Father, and have life in the Son.

As we look at the gifts, convinced of there working within us then seeing we believe. It also explains why there are a whole list of negative attributes co existing with the gifts. When the gift is used for others, we experience joy and fulfillment. When the gifts are used to enhance self or enrich self then one observes the hollowness and emptiness of a life without the Son.