It's been almost a year to the date that Chris, Colton and myself sat in a small room at the University of Alabama Autism Clinic. I can remember that day so clearly... Chris and I sat in a circle with professors and doctors while Colton played on the ground with a student from the University. It was there in that room that we heard the words, "Your child falls on the Autism Spectrum". Right then and there I crumbled.. I held it together on the outside, but inside my life was falling apart before me. I wanted to stay so strong for everyone, yet I just wanted to go in a room and cry because I was so worried, scared, afraid and angry at the same time. As a child of God, I couldn't understand why he had placed Autism in our life. It was something that I had never planned for and never even pictured in my life, but I soon began to realize that it was something that God was blessing our family with.
You see, a little over a year ago, our little boy wasn't even saying a single word besides "mama" and "bye bye". He wasn't making good eye contact and he would get easily frustrated if one single thing went wrong in his day. Some of our days were simple and easy, when other days were extremely difficult. Since Colton wasn't communicating, it was hard to know when he was hurting, what he wanted to eat or drink or if something was wrong. It was soon after we went to the Autism Clinic that we enrolled Colton in speech twice a week. We started to see progress in December and we were thrilled! His speech was improving and we were starting to see a completely different child. It was then in May, when our pastor prayed over our family and for Colton's healing that we started to see daily improvement in our little boy. God began healing our precious child right before our eyes! He began talking, showing better eye contact and adjusting to difficult situations a little bit better than before.
We still have a long road ahead of us, but since last year Colton has overcome obstacles that some people never thought were achievable! He is now talking nonstop and will repeat every word that you tell him. His speech is still jargon at times, but we are undertanding more and more words every week. He knows his ABC's, can count to 20 and can count backwards, he knows all his shapes and colors, he can spell and write his name and he loves to sing. We are also seeing his funny and sweet personality open up more as well. God is working in his life daily and we are so blessed that we get to witness it every day.
Autism to some people may mean the end of the world. However, in our family, it means the beginning of something beautiful! We get to see the miracles of God each day, we've grown closer as a family and we know that our God is forever faithful!
May the Lord be praised, for He has wonderfully shown His faithful love to me in a city under siege. In my alarm I had said, “I am cut off from Your sight.” But You heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to You for help. Love the Lord, all His faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant. Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31: 21-24)
