Autism Awareness: Our Story

   Today is Autism Awareness Day. It's Autism awareness month as well. Right now the numbers show that 1 in 68 people are diagnosed with Autism.* I love that there are special days and events to promote educating people about autism. Some people may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn more about it. And there are many misconceptions out there...

"He doesn't look Autistic."

"Did he get it from a vaccine?"

"My kids did that too, he'll grow out of it."

   For me Autism is something I have been made very aware of since about ten years ago when my oldest was diagnosed. I was not prepared, I was not educated (enough), I had no idea that the moment the pediatric psychiatrist said "Autism", it was to become a way of life for my family.

   Almost everything after that word was like hearing one of the grownups from Charlie Brown talking.


"Wawawa. Wawawawaw."


   I couldn't focus, I was blindsided. But the one thing that stuck with me that was said before we left was,

"He is still the same boy you came in here with today"

   But was he? I cried when we got in the car. I didn't even know why I was crying.

   Everything changed after that. We had to discipline differently, teach differently, talk differently to him. We had to apply for medical assistance and start therapies and services that would bring strangers into our home. We started to read piles of books on the subject, and Google was getting a lot of attention in the wee hours of the night. My husband and I prayed a lot for him, for us, for strength, patience, and wisdom.

   But my son, my sweet toddler who flapped his hands and liked to line up toys on the floor, was not phased by his diagnoses.

   For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14

   He was the same boy I fell in love with at first sight. He was God's gift to us. He was still our blessing, and we loved him more than ever.

   He was no different than he always was, but we changed. We had to. We are still changing.
Awareness changed everything. Now that we were aware, we understood why he couldn't talk to us like other kids could. We knew why he didn't play like other kids, and why he got so upset over seemingly small things. We learned how to hold him during meltdowns, how to set routines, and how to encourage his imagination (which is quite elaborate now). We've had to learn patience, over and over and over again.

   Our every day changed. We couldn't go to crowded places without knowing we might have to exit quickly when a meltdown came on. We had to pay attention to sensory input affecting our son in all situations. We didn't really go to amusement parks or big events. Family outings were a lot of work. Even going to church was difficult. We learned how to be prepared, and usually had a "plan B" for things.

   We also learned how to recognize signs of Autism in others. So several years later we had our two younger boys evaluated and they were also diagnosed on the Autism spectrum.

   The three boys are very different . There were some things similar in how they each presented their Autism, but many differences. So we had to make different adjustments to our ways for each child. I heard someone say once, "If you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism."

   Autistic people, just like everyone else, are individuals. They bring their own personalities, abilities, and struggles into the mix. And they ought to be treated like the unique people they all are.

   We became very aware of the struggles of Autism. But we also became aware of the triumphs. We learned to appreciate every victory our boys achieved, no matter how small. We a cheered them on as they had their ups and downs with speech struggles, potty training, physical limitations, social skills, and so much more.

   We were forced to depend on God for carrying us through when we didn't know what step to take next, and we taught our kids to do the same.

   The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 
Lamentations 3:22-24

   My oldest started middle school this year. It's been a time of many adjustments once again. We've had some new battles to get through, as well as new victories. He enjoys math and science, and he attends all of the regular classes at his school with the help of a personal aide. My younger boys are making excellent grades and one of them recently was chosen by his peers to win an award for good character.

   So here's what I would like to make people aware of today. Autism is not a disease or a thing that happens to people. Autism is a sum of differences that sets some people apart from others. It is one part of a definition of what makes each person a unique individual. And it can be different, and difficult, and amazing all at the same time.

   It's not something to be afraid of. Yes, there are some struggles that have to be overcome, and many adjustments for an autistic person as well as their family. Many of those adjustments would be easier if there was more awareness around us, in churches, in schools, in restaurants and movie theaters. If more people in our culture can learn about the differences of Autism, Autistic people would not have to work so hard to fit in. They shouldn't have to change themselves to be like everyone else. Autism is not bad behavior or brokenness, it's a part of who they are.

   God created us all as individuals. And we should all be given the opportunity to thrive, no matter what our differences are.

   Be aware. Educate yourself. And do your part to include everyone no matter what differences there are between you and them.  Make an attempt to learn something about it, or better yet, invite an Autistic person, or a parent out for coffee and get to know them better this month.

Have a blessed day!



*The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds) in multiple communities in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Victory in Battle

There's a popular quote about being kind to others because we are all fighting a battle no one else knows about. I think we've all had to fight this type of battle at some point. Battles that rage inside of us can tear us apart just as easily as those that harm us from the outside. But these battles don't have to be faught alone.

When King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were facing annihilation by the armies of Edom, they were terrified. This was a physical threat coming against them and they were crying out to God in fear. They began to fast and pray for guidance. God spoke through one of His people,

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
2 Chronicles 20:15-17

The people were expecting a fight and crying out for help, and just like that, God said He had it handled. There was no need to fight the battle, because God already had it under control.

" The battle is not yours, but God's. "

We are all too ready to claim these battles as our own. We take ownership and then we struggle to give it back. God told His people what they need to do,

"Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory."

So after this, the people began to rejoice and praise God for the victory even before it happened.

They sang,

“Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!" vs. 21

"At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves."
vs. 22

If God can wipe out an army without even one sword drawn. How much more do you think God can handle the battles that go on in our own lives, and in our own minds?

In my own experience, I have found that the victory comes when the praise starts. When we claim victory over our battles, and praise the God who overcomes, we have already won, no matter what the outcome.

Getting started is often the hardest part for me. When I am afraid or discouraged I tend to have trouble praising or even talking to God. But once I do, I start to know peace.

Not every battle will go the way we want it too. We may suffer some losses. But if we are able to praise God for who He is in the midst of our battle, we have achieved our victory. If we give Him the Glory He deserves, we have done what is required of us.

After the battle was won, it goes on to say that the armies turned on each other, and not a single one of their enemies survived. They praised God for their victory,


"So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side." vs. 30

Peace of mind is not something attained because all is well. It is something attained by knowing who wins the battles. Sacrificing our plans and our desires and turning our thoughts to giving thanks and praising God for who He is, gives Him the opportunity to work in our situation how he sees fit.

When your battles are going on, even the ones on the inside, praise Him on the outside. Praise Him continuously until you receive peace and rest, for it is then that the battle is won and His victory becomes ours.

Moving Forward

Isaac Newton's first law of motion tells us that a body at rest will remain at rest until acted upon by an external unbalanced force of energy. Similarly, a body in motion will remain in motion until acted upon by an external unbalanced force of energy. It needs to be an unbalanced force of energy because if there is an equal force on both sides of a body the effect will be that they cancel each other out. In other words, in order for something to start or stop moving, there has to be a greater force that is pushing or resisting on the body than whatever is keeping it in place or moving it at any given time. This property is called inertia.

If you've lived long enough, you've probably had things pop up in life that have seemingly brought everything to a sudden halt. You're walking along the path dodging the potholes here and there and then out of nowhere you smack against a brick wall. The strength of this obstacle hitting you, even though you were in motion, causes you to stop heading in the direction in which you were formerly headed. It was a mighty big thing that you ran into, and it may have even pushed you backwards a bit after you hit it. And now, it seems impossible to get going again.

But the first law of motion says that in the same way that an outside force stopped you in your tracks, you can also start to move forward.  In other words, it took a mighty force to stop us, but there is a mightier force that can get us started again.

When we have a force behind us moving us along the path again, it gives us the strength we need to keep moving forward. And not just any force, but a greater force than anything that is keeping us still, like fear, anxiety, depression, or a lack of confidence. That great force that pushes us to the finish line is the God who gives us hope. He is our source of strength

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:29-31

It's hard to get through those times in life that smack us in the face, and it's normal to not feel like getting back up again. But dont think you have to do it on your own. Get your friends and family behind you. Get into your prayer life and ask for help. We are a people made to depend on each other and on God. That's how we move forward.

God practically promises that at some point on our life's path we will meet a force that could disable us. But He very clearly promises that He is %100 behind us when we walk with Him, keeping us from falling, drowning or burning up when these forces come against us.

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. - Isaiah 43:1-2

So don't get discouraged when you hit a wall, or go through the waters, or find a fire in your path. Get back up and let the God of Power get you going again. Reach out. Keep reaching out. And when you don't feel like it, when you're tired and weak, know that it does take hard work. The force the moves you has to be stronger than the force that is keeping you still. We can't do it in our own strength, but God can lift you up and keep you going If you hand the controls over. If you can get yourself up, God can help you move.