HARD. The last week or so has been difficult. Many of you know that Noah has autism. I use the term “high-functioning”. I’m no doctor or specialist, but autism IS a spectrum. Noah is very smart. Spend any amount of time with him and it’s easy to see the brilliance of his mind. Spend any amount of time with him and you’ll the world of autism blossom before your eyes. The past week or so we’ve seen it all.

EASY. I joke about this but, remember when you had to have “the talk”, about the birds and the bees, with your child, well imagine having that talk with someone on the autism spectrum. Easy breezy, at least with my guy. Noah seeing all subject matter as black and white. No middle ground. No gray area. So, like I said…EASY. lol!

SCARY. As parent, a father, I feel that one of my duties is to raise my kids in a manner that prepares them, as best as possible, to be adults and contributing members of society. With autism, that’s a whole different barrel of monkeys. I worry, sight unseen most of the time, about Noah’s future. Yes, we have made and continue to make all of the legal provisions for him to live in our home once we both die. Yes, there will be funds($) for him, both from the government and from mom and dad. However, what I’m talking about is who will take him to ball games? Who will have a Saturday afternoon out with him? Will he remember to put the trash out on Tuesday night? There are a million things! As a believer in my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, I know Noah(he’s a believer also) will be taken care of, better than I could ever do. It’s still scary though, I must admit.

JOYFUL. With autism-at least with Noah-comes a continuing sense of innocence. The way he looks at nature. His love for the butterfly, the monarch in particular, goes without saying. He believes in Santa Claus. I’m not going to tell him any different. I, too, believe in the magic of Christmas. He just sees the world through an entirely different lens. Honestly, i think more of us should see the world the way he does. It would be a better place. Sometimes I catch myself and I am seeing things the way he does, the innocence of kids playing at the park, the joy in going to one of your favorite places, etc. IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

SAD. It’s been sometime now, but I used to get as fairly often I wish that Noah didn’t have autism. The answer is no. Now, don’t hate on me. This is just my opinion, but hear me out. God made Noah exactly the way HE wanted him to be. I firmly believe that, not just for Noah, but for all of us. Noah is “perfect” just the way he is, with all the quirks. By the way, we ALL have our own quirks, not just someone with autism. So, no. I love Noah just as he is, and I am excited to see him continue to grow, mature and develop in the man that God has intended all along.

I hope that this has given a little peek into the world Joyce and I live in every day. We are so blessed, and we know it. We don’t take it for granted. Life is beautiful. I hope that your life is beautiful as well. Hug someone today. tell someone how much you love them. I love you.

Be well,

Jeff