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God Must Have Autism
By Mommy1 | April 2, 2008
God must have autism. All the planets spin. The stars twinkle in a spectacular display of visual sensory input.
Today, April 2nd, is World Autism Day. This is a day to advocate for people with autism, and to spread awareness. Autism affects four times more boys than girls, and impairs a person’s social awareness, communication and behavior. The jury is still out on the causes of autism, and I’m not here to point the finger toward any one theory. Fact is, there is no known cause and no known cure. Yet.
Do you know someone with autism? If not, you will. Guaranteed. Autism rates are soaring, with recent counts being as high as 1 child in 160. That’s three to four times higher than 30 years ago. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined. Yet public research funding totals less than 5 percent of that for leukemia, juvenile diabetes, and muscular dystrophy.
What do you do if you know a child with autism? First of all, don’t be afraid of him. Approach him. Try to look him in the eyes. He will likely not be able to look in your eyes, it may be painful for him. Half of all people with autism do not speak, so if the child or person is not responding, that does not mean they don’t understand. People with autism have a difficult time forming relationships and bonds. They have a hard time communicating, and many people just give up. Don’t! Inside this person is a gold mine of little nuggets for you to marvel at! You should see my treasure chest brimming with little successes!
If you know of a family that has a child with autism, let me tell you how they feel from a firsthand account. They feel so utterly isolated. I cannot stress that enough. Taking a child with autism out into the community is often so stressful that it is just easier to stay home. They will decline invitations out for playdates or even grown-up dates. You can’t just leave a child with autism with any babysitter! They’re essentially stuck at home with no light at the end of the tunnel. They are overwhelmed and exhausted. To help their child, they need to advocate and be their child’s speech/occupational/behavioural therapists at home, 24/7. These parents need help. They need prayer. They need understanding.
Generally speaking, a man is more analytical, and a woman is more emotional. Yet, each was made in God’s image. Man reflects God’s thoughtfulness. Woman reflects God’s heart. Neither is more important than the other, both are equal reflections of Him. The next time you see someone who isn’t acting “normal”, who may be rocking back and forth, flapping their hands, or just plain different or awkward, remember, they are reflecting a part of God’s Perfect character. God makes no mistakes, and we all are made in His image.
Yes, I believe God set the planets to spin for a reason.
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Topics: Autism, Mommie Stuff, Serious Discussions, Who We Are | No Comments »
