Last time I posted I was on ‘the day in between’ and
although still hoping and trusting, having my feet firmly planted on the rock
(God), things were pretty tough. I felt battered.
Things are still a bit tough. I guess I’m still processing
losing our good friends (see last post). However both my husband and I felt it
the right thing to do, to let them go. The Bible speaks about casting your
bread upon the waters (Ecclesiastes 11:1) and we feel such a peace, that can
only be from God, that we believe that yes, we have done the right thing. I
feel as though something has been cut away and it is a bit sore, but am certain
that new growth shall spring forth. God did speak to me about our friendships too, which I will share soon, and it encourage me that we had done the right thing.
Because my two sons are on the Autistic/ Aspergers spectrum
and we are trying to get help for them I have had to start really researching
it, to ensure they get everything they need and we don’t miss anything. However
a common theme I have come across is how autistic people struggle to understand
other people. Perhaps I am a little autistic myself – people often genuinely
boggle me. I even read a book once by a theologian really knowledgeable about
Biblical Greek and Hebrew, and he felt that the Bible made it clear that Paul’s
thorn in the flesh (2 Cor 12: 7) was
people. That’s why God couldn’t take it away – people will always be there! I
often feel ‘different’ or like and outsider, or the person who has a different
opinion to everyone else (but often lacking the courage to say it and stand
out). I just pray the hurts don’t make me hide away, but that God gives me the
courage to stand up more and be myself. We all need to be free to be who God
created us to be : )
Money is still a huge leap of faith whilst we await the
outcome of a remortgage attempt, especially with three family birthdays in
three weeks. And my eldest and her friend were followed back to college from
the local town by a very strange chap and the incident had to be reported to
the Police and they had to give statements – apparently there have been a
number of similar incidents involving other students. What a shame. We continue
to pray protection.
However, some blessings since my last post:
I had a positive contact from the wife of the builder who
worked here and with whom we fell out. It was a small gesture, but very
welcomed.
The NHS (National Health Service) has agreed to see both my
boys regarding their autism/ Aspergers – a real breakthrough after 7 months of
bashing my head against a brick wall!
College for my eldest is in the process of being sorted and
all being well she will have great courses to continue with for the next two
years that will still give her an opportunity to become a teacher.
And today was my eldest son’s birthday. Last year he moved
school (his choice as he loathes change), mostly because he had no friends. He
went from having few friends and spending each break and lunchtime standing on
the edge of the woods by himself and having no social life, to today. Today he
got 14 friends posting on his Facebook page wishing him a Happy Birthday.
One said: “Happy birthday … you’re my best mate and I
couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
Another friend, a lovely, tall lad with amazingly large and
mad hair, turned up this morning out of the blue and gave him a card, money and
chocolate. He wrote in the birthday card: “Thank you for coming to our school,
because if you didn’t I wouldn’t have the most greatest friend anyone could
ever ask for.”
My son still chose to have today with just us as a family
(mostly spent on the Xbox though, connected to friends), but he has friends
that care and he smiled today. A lot. And he is happy today. And he has a
small, but great group of friends. For him, with the type of autism he has,
that’s like saying he’s climbed Everest.
So whether it be a text, a college course, the NHS or a
group of teenagers, we have had blessings since my last post. Blessings really
do come in all shapes and sizes. I positively and prayerfully look forward to
more good things happening in the days ahead.
I pray that if you are reading this, you will know answered
prayer and some different sized blessings too. Hang in there. God is faithful.
‘The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.’ (2
Peter 3: 9).
May God truly bless you : )
