Autism Sunday, also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger syndrome, is observed annually on the second Sunday of February.
Four years ago, I didn't know Mama J, I'd never heard of her or seen her around town. I lived in the same city as her and had no idea. Then, something happened. Autism happened. We moved to a town about 50 miles south and coincidentally, through Facebook and online blogging, I met Mama J and have been blessed to follow along in her adventure with her amazing family. I recently found out she attends Grandma and Grandpa Genius' church. Say what?! It's a small world...
Well, three years ago, when we began our journey, the world didn't seem so small. In fact, it felt ginormous, overwhelming...almost too much to bear. Our boy had slipped away right before our eyes. All we were ever taught about healing and sickness seemed irrelevant, a lie. We were so confused, hurt, and sad at some of the responses to our son's situation. We took him to the alter and the elders laid hands on him...no healing. We were told by some he wasn't being healed because of our lack of faith. What? Wrong.
Why, Lord? What have we done? Grant us mercy, Lord...grant him mercy Lord. Heal him. Make him whole. By His stripes he is healed. We claim this in Jesus' name. This was our prayer. This was what we held on to...it both sustained us and drove us from God. We went through a season where we didn't know exactly how to feel. All we had been taught...it was as if it was...a lie.
Fast forward through a difficult season in our faith, and there has definitely been some healing going on in our lives. No, our son isn't "recovered" from autism, but the other health concerns he was facing are beginning to heal and we now have wisdom on how to help his physical body feel better. Autism is still sort of a mystery...but hey, isn't The Lord? We haven't given up on him yet...so we are not giving up on autism. We most certainly are finding bits and pieces of Him in this autism mystery. Most of the family can agree that Micah has helped many of us heal spiritually and emotionally. Our faith has been tested and God has shown us His glory through each step in our journey.
Tomorrow, Micah will be five. He is still non-verbal. His baby brother is 19 months old and spoke his first sentence yesterday. It was amazing. For in that moment, I felt the hand of God nudge me forward to show me He's got this under control.
He's still not "healed" in the eyes of the world. But we are certain he is perfect in the eyes of the Lord. We are certain he was fearfully and wonderfully made and the Lord is doing a good work through Micah. The Lord has taught us through Micah's struggles so many lessons and helped us to be more sensitive to others who are dealing with special needs. We have discovered part of our "purpose" in this life. For this, we are thankful. Our God is good - all the time. Before and after a diagnosis. When we can grasp that concept, we can overcome many obstacles.
So, my main prayer for Autism Sunday is for the Lord to reveal himself in your ASD child. I pray you will see more than a diagnosis. I pray you ask God for wisdom about your child's health and that you NEVER wait-and-see. I pray you take advice from non-experts in autism with a grain of salt and still love them when they say things that may hurt you. I pray you take the time to take care of you so you are able to care for your ASD child as long as the Lord wills.
~Mama Genius, wife & assistant to Daddy Genius, blessed mama of 4, college graduate, workaholic, blogging about faith | parenting | autism | CH | thyroid health.
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