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Christian Parents Raising Autistic Children, What Are Your Thoughts?
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭

I am working on a book, a devotional for parents / loved ones of children with disabilities. Being a Christian has had a profound impact on the way I view and raise my autistic daughter. I would love feedback from other Christian parents who are raising children on the spectrum. What are your spiritual concerns and insights regarding your child? For example, we had a lengthy discussion with the children's minister regarding our daughter's ability to comprehend the Gospel message and make a… read more

posted March 19, 2012
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A MyAutismTeam Member

People often ask me am I a Spiritual person during conversations regarding my 4-year old daughter who has autism. "You handle it so well," they say. I let them know that I am a Christian and my faith in God does not allow me to "handle it" any other way.

I never questioned God as to "why me?", or "what did I do wrong?" when we received my daughter's autism diagnosis. You see, I understand that my steps are ordered by the Lord. Therefore, I know that my child was born the way God intended her to be.

Many parents have a plan on what their kid will be and do. They have the kids life planned out as soon as they find out they're pregnant (sometimes before). Those who do this need to realize they don't have that power or control-- hence the phrase "we plan, God laughs".

For me, I see my daughter without the labels that society place on her. I understand society does so in order to better manage, deal with and address disorders, disease, afflictions, etc.. However, I see her as a gift-- a child of God created just the way He wants her to be. She is created in His image!!

In your book, make it known that those born with ASD do not have a dis-order but rather Divine-order. As Psalm 139:13-16 says, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." How profound is this! Ions before our children were born, God knew what their framework would be.

Make sure to reveal to parents that we all are created in His image and that "...children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." (Psalm 127:3-5)

Many parents look to societal-norms of what "typical" looks like and they don't even realize that nothing could ever be greater then being created in His image. When people have this epiphany-- they will not have to ask if their child was created autistic or is their child a spiritual gift.

It's great that God put this book on your
heart. Please do keep me posted on your works! Blessings, ZenMom

posted April 4, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

I think you will enjoy the book "Autism's Hidden Blessings" by Kelly Langston.

Your question is a big one.. I have changed how I think about this many times. Before my relationship with the Lord grew, I thought I was being punished for my earlier sins. Now I know God does not work that way. Then I became obsessed with Autism and spent most of my time trying to help my very severe child. God answered many prayers and I recognized that but Autism became an idol. God revealed that to me during a Bible study and I repented. Now I spend more time leaning on God and trying to achieve / keep balance in my life. Because God is a great provider, he enables this to happen by bringing wonderful people into my son's life.

God has used this situation to reveal himself to me. I have become more understanding, more patient, and generally more obediant to God. But mostly God has taught me to trust Him. To believe Him. I still struggle with this but it truly has been a wonderous journey that I can't imagine without Autism. My struggles with my son's autism caused me to cry out again and again. And God answered... not the way I always thought he would but in ways that were even better. Of course I didn't always know that at the time.

Here's my favorite story about God's presence in the midst of the storm. My son struggles with severe aggression and self injurious behavior. At around age 10, it was so bad that I was restraining him multiple times per day to keep him from hurting himself. One night after an exhausting day which included my husband and I fighting over the correct way to restrain my son, I was restraining my son yet again. It seemed to go on forever and my son was just not calming down. I cried out to God "please make it stop, make it stop." I felt God's presence so close and His peace just flooded my heart. I felt his love. There's no way to adequately describe how I could feel this way while chaos was all around.

The Lord did not make it stop right then. But today, my son's aggression/SIB is dramatically reduced. And that's another story about the Lord's faithfulness and how He is a God who hears us. He truly can work all things for good.

posted March 20, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

I don't think God makes mistakes. My son was wonderfully created exactly as God intended him.
My husband on the other hand is proof He has a sense of humor.......JK=)

posted March 26, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

I cannot believe a loving and merciful God would condemn someone who is mentally impaired to the point where he/she is not able to understand the Gospel. That doesn't relieve us as parents from the responsibility to do our best to teach our children about Christ, but ultimately we have to have faith in His love and saving grace. He loves us and He loves our children too.

posted March 24, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

@A MyAutismTeam Member - I found the book of Job to be very helpful when I was going through an extremely challenging time with my son. The part they never teach in Sunday school is how Job was questioning God. I love God's answer. "Where were you when I was doing x y and z. I'm God." It was humbling to me and helped me get perspective of the different ways God uses hard things to refine. And He is God!!

posted April 6, 2012 (edited)

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