God Speaks Autism...

I've always contended that God "speaks" autism.

I knew that God knew about Braden, but I didn't know that Braden knew about God. With his autism, he doesn't understand abstract concept..things must be concrete and literal.

I knew God would protect him and that He loved him more than even I do, but my heart wanted Braden to love God as well.

Then one day years ago, when he was about to spike a fever which would have landed us in the ER again with a possible admit, I took out a special cloth that had been blessed, and placed it on Braden's head. I had never shown him the cloth but I had placed it on his abdomen frequently and prayed for his tumor there to go away.

I didn't really believe the cloth had any "magical powers", but I figured...

why not?  Can't hurt!!

Braden felt the cloth on his head and pulled it from my hand. He grasped it and without hesitation said,

"Oh...Hi God!"

I didn't even know he knew the word God.

My entire body filled with goosebumps.

And at that moment...I knew...

God speaks autism.

They have a very close relationship and they "know" each other in ways I could never understand or explain.

Braden knows and loves God.

And God "speaks" to Braden through his heart.

Well tonight, Braden was in bed. He had left his "first tiger"...his favorite of his stuff toy tigers (he now has nine for nine years old). Each is named in cardinal order.

"First Tiger" was indeed the first tiger he received.

And he NEVER sleeps or travels or has scans or goes to clinic or long car rides without "First Tiger".

First Tiger was downstairs in the exact spot he told me I would find him and as I walked back into my room I was shocked to see Braden flipping through the pages of my Bible.

My first reaction was "NO!" because I was afraid he would rip the delicate pages. So I asked him to give it to me.

He obliged, very sweetly and then I realized my mistake.

I handed the Bible back to Braden and said, "Open it honey...what page do you want to read".

He took the closed book and opened it to a page.

I then asked him to point to the words he wanted me to read.

He said, "Right here"...

The words were from Psalm 105 verse 4 and 5...

"Look to the Lord and his strength;
     seek his face always.

Remember the wonders he has done,
     his miracles, and the judgments he
          pronounced."

Those same goosebumps are back.

God speaks autism.

And tonight...God spoke to my heart through Braden...

and gave me HOPE...

Through FAITH!

TAKE THAT cANCER!