Dear Lydia,Every day I pray for peace in my relationship with my husband and with God. What can I study to keep close to God?
Thanks for your help,
Mother In Need
Dear Mother in Need,
I am sorry for the heartbreak that you are feeling at this point in your life. It is hard to see your own child struggle in this life whether it be great or small. As parents we suffer with them.
I encourage you to look at Christ in the gospels and see how he reacts to people's pain. He is completely compassionate and with them emotionally even when he knows there will be a victory in the future. Jesus' reactions reveal God's heart. God grieves with you.
I can also tell you that God can handle your anger. Cry out to him about your feelings and ask for his comfort and peace. He will give it to you.
Satan tries to divide families in times of stress. You and your husband need to draw near to each other as you learn to cope with your son's developmental disorder. Comfort, encourage, trust each other each day.
I hope that you have a circle of friends that will pray with you, relieve you when you need a break and be your partners in learning your child's special communication style. This takes openness and vulnerability on your part.
I encourage other disciples who have children with autism to write to Dear Lydia. Perhaps we can start a Kingdom support group via email or Facebook.
I encourage you to become your son's advocate. Learn everything you can about resources available to him in your community and take advantage of them. This will be a new mission field as you continue to be a disciple and share your faith in this lost world.
Dear young mother, you will find great joy in what your son will accomplish in this life. You just need some time. Please stay in touch.
I am attaching a response from another young mother whose son was also diagnosed a few months ago.
With love,
Lydia
Dear Mother In Need,
It is good to hear from you. First, I want you to know that you have hope. Remember this Scripture:
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5)
More than anyone else in the world, God's chosen ones have hope. God promises us that our sufferings are producing wonderful transformations within us. In addition, He promises that he will love us through the process. Each person deals with news like this differently. In fact, our family is going through the same crisis that you are. Three things have helped me maintain my spiritual footing through many tear-filled days and nights:
1. The Scriptures. In particular, I have been studying Scriptures on Hope and Faith. This has helped me more than anything else. These Scriptures read more powerfully in light of your current situation. Meditate on them and put them to memory.
2. My husband. Allow your husband to hear you, encourage you and disciple you through this process. Mine has helped me through periods of sadness and denial. We have prayed together and seen our child progress in ways we never imagined.
3. Friends. Share your feelings with dear friends. Talk regularly with sisters with children in similar situations. Read success stories in magazines and online (and there are MANY). Join a group in your area of families of parents dealing with Autistic children. There is strength in numbers.
Remember we serve an amazing God. I know your journey will not be easy, but know that God has victory in store in the end. We must not give up.
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