What Is a Blessing?

What Is a Blessing?.

What Is a Blessing?

What Is a Blessing?.

What Is a Blessing?

The Fantastic Balancing Act

Several years ago my husband and I were involved in a bible study small group with a family that had an autistic son. At the time the wife was writing a book that she would go on to publish titled “Autism is a Blessing”. At the time that she was in the throws of writing this book she shared with us the reasoning behind it. I tried to understand, but all I could see was a wonderful family raising a child to the best of their ability with fairly severe developmental delays. I recall one of their struggles was potty training. I believe he was 8 at the time. With my limited experience I deduced that ‘autism was a blessing’ was purely their decision to perceive their life in the most positive way. I couldn’t truly accept that autism was a blessing, but I commended them for their attitude and…

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YOU WERE CHOSEN

YOU WERE CHOSEN.

Those Who Have Come Before You

Those Who Have Come Before You.

One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time.

Gratefulness Is Refreshing

Gratefulness Is Refreshing.

Autism Has Blessings?

Do you know someone with autism?  Do you know someone with a unique ability?  How can a struggle be a blessing?  How can difficulty have any blessings?  Well, let me tell you how.

Autism has been a blessing to me.  I wouldn’t say this at first.  When my son Charlie was first diagnosed I thought this is the worst thing that is happening to us.  I thought what is autism?  I thought how can this be happening.  I thought what is the future going to be like for my son.  I thought where do I begin?  I thought did I do something to “give him this” autism?  Those were my early thoughts right after I received those words “your son has autism”.

Now 5 years later, I have a new outlook on autism.  I consider autism a blessing in my life.  I have learned much more from my son than I have taught him.  He teaches me what real love is.  He teaches me patience DAILY.  He teaches me to not sweat the small stuff (still learning that one).  He teaches me to appreciate the little things in life.  I appreciate language.  I appreciate the progress he has made.  I appreciate my son’s innocence still. 

Charlie reminds me to reach out and help others.  He has his moments when noises bother him and he screams with his hands over his ears.  He has his moments when he sees animal characters he starts grunting and covering his eyes and ears.  He has moments when I tell him to get off the computer or Wii where he flops on the floor and says No No No!  He has moments while we are doing homework where he says it is too hard and cries. 

All those moments I am reminded that I am his mother and I am here to help him and console him.  I am here to guide and protect him.  Reassure him that he is ok and to STOP, BREATHE and THINK.  I tell him all the time, I CAN DO IT.  I have pasted that everywhere since we learned about his autism.  I have this pasted on his bed, in the kitchen and on his desk.  I will constantly remind him that he can do it and in return I use it for myself.  Patty, you can do it.  You can help your son.

Is autism difficult?  It can be.  I choose to look at the positives.  I choose to look at how autism has made me a better person.  My son doesn’t have any idea what peer pressure is.  He is happy making rollercoasters all day if I let him.  He loves people no matter what.  He doesn’t have any concept of a grudge.  Charlie is a blessing in my life. 

The autism blessings for me have been many.  I have learned so much about other disabilities.  I have met some really great families and have learned many things from them and how they handle their childs unique abilities and struggles.  I have been inspired by so many children and adults living with disabilities (or as I like to say UNIQUE ABILITIES). 

If I didn’t have autism in my life, I may be the mom looking at the other mom in the grocery store trying to get her kid off the floor while he is screaming and kicking.  I might be the mom that gives her a dissaproving look like, “don’t give him what he wants because he is spoiled”.  I might be the mom that goes up to the child and asks if he is ok because I think he is being abused. 

I am so glad I am not that mom.  I am honored that I can be a mom to teach others about unique abilities and different struggles people can have.   I want to continue to educate people about different disabilities and how they are just like us.  They may look different, act different but they are an important person and are valuable just like anyone else.  We are all unique.  How are you different?  Have you been blessed?

www.autismblessing.com

By Patty Corrigan Myers, author of Autism Is A Blessing