Dear readers and friends, I fully intended to write a Christmas in July post since my Starlight Christmas Series (four book complete series) is on sale this month. But at least two other Inspy authors have already covered the Christmas topic recently. So, instead, today I’d like to share with you a bit about my wonderful son, Matthew. In large part, Matthew is the reason I write the books I do. Let me explain a bit more.
Matthew is our baby, our only son, and born in a suburb of Philadelphia. He’s now 20. Matthew didn’t walk until he was nearly 15 months old, and he didn’t speak our language until he was well over the age of three except for the most simple words and names. He did speak, and he understood us well, but we couldn’t make out what he was trying to say. In other words, he had his own little language, as we called it. We lived in Massachusetts, outside Boston, where my husband, Jim, was a pastor and wore many hats in a small, independent Bible church.
When Matthew was 18 months old, we had him evaluated by doctors and enrolled him in an early intervention program at a local school. The program was wonderful. They gave Matthew therapy in everything from speech and fine motor skills to physical therapy (the latter two he didn’t really didn’t need but they wanted him to have the benefit of a comprehensive program). He sat with a weighted vest during story time to keep him still, and specialists in all areas worked closely with him.
Matthew was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the very broad autism spectrum, a few years later. There is a lot of misunderstanding about Asperger’s, even among some of the supposed best physicians. No one knows what causes it, and it is a condition for which there is no cure. We fought a snowstorm to go into Boston for Matthew to be evaluated by one of the best childhood developmental specialists. This highly esteemed doctor belittled our son and suggested we have his IQ evaluated because, among other things, in a word association game, Matthew responded to the word “bell” by saying it reminded him of the church. It was perhaps at that point when I fully understood that we’d be fighting battles for our son. Perhaps a lifelong battle. No problem. We were up to the challenge. At times, it’s been difficult, but I’m aware of other authors who have sons with Asperger’s Syndrome who have faced much more daunting situations than we ever have. But the Lord equips us, and I know the other authors would agree, that we have learned through our experiences with these special children.
Matthew looked like a “normal” kid with no obvious tics. I love the photo of him with his older sisters because it shows his natural protectiveness for them. One of the senior saints in one of our churches referred to him as being “slow” when nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, he is brilliant to the point where he learns and thinks differently. Matthew’s “disability” is language comprehension. He’s been able to spell difficult words from an early age and he can memorize very well, but he could read a paragraph of a fairly simple book and not be able to tell you what it means. Subtext is especially beyond his grasp. However, he can solve difficult mathematical and scientific equations that confound me. It’s true that parents of special needs children become their best advocates, but that’s not my purpose in writing this blog.
My purpose here today is to tell you how Matthew has enriched my life immeasurably more. For a person with Asperger’s (sometimes called an Aspy), he is atypically social. He will look you in the eye when he speaks to you. He has a phenomenal memory. If he met you today and saw you ten years down the road, in Hong Kong, he’d know you by name and recall where he met you. And probably tell you what the weather patterns were on the day he first met you. He loves to build with Lego blocks and can look at a skyscraper or architectural structure and build it from memory. Loves clouds and storms and will stand outside on our front step talking about what is currently happening. He is also fascinated by the World Trade Towers tragedy in that he wants to know why the buildings collapsed. He studies the infrastructure closely and tells me things of which I have no knowledge and am amazed by what my child can comprehend. Like most people with Asperger’s, Matthew has become a “little professor” about things that interest him. In his case, it started with a fascination with U.S. presidents, and Abraham Lincoln, in particular. I’ll never forget attending a musical program with the girls when Matthew was about five. He was drawing while we waited for the program to begin. I could tell he was drawing the profiles of presidents in circles. I could easily identify Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, and even John Adams. All from memory. I pointed to one and said, “Who’s this one?” He looked up at me with his big blue eyes and said (as if I were a simpleton), “Mom, that’s James Polk!” I nudged Jim. “He was a president, right?”
We could have lost our boy on two occasions, but not because of illness. In the first, he was at home on a somewhat busy street. Jim was cleaning the hamster cage and Matthew slipped out the front door. I would normally have been upset with Jim that Matthew was still in his bright green sleeper in the middle of the day, but that oversight or negligence could have contributed to saving our son’s life. He ended up in the middle of the street. But it was the man next door, a man with whom we had little contact although the home was also owned by the church, who rushed out of his house and pulled Matthew to safety. Cars on both sides of the street stopped and the drivers got out of their cars to check on him. I honestly believe the Lord worked through that man, and Matthew might very well have had an angel with him that day.
The second time was on Matthew’s third birthday. It was a cold, rainy night in early February. We were eating at The Rainforest Café at the local mall. I was busy collecting everything at the table and Matthew wandered away from Jim and our girls in the gift shop. It’s so true that you turn and they can be gone in an instant. I never blame parents when I hear situations like this because I know from personal experience how easily—and how fast—it can happen. Turns out, Matthew was walking down the mall, singing, looking in store windows, happy as a lark. A lady who’d lost her daughter at Disney World found him and took him to the Information desk. I’ll always remember the gruff guard who said, “He couldn’t even tell me his name.” I was very impressed by the restaurant and mall security who went into immediate action, and we could see them running around the upper level of the mall with their headsets, joining in the search for our lost little birthday boy.
Matthew’s been at summer camp as I write this, and I miss my boy who tells me a hundred times a day, “I love you, Mom.” Repetition is also part of Asperger’s. He’s attended this same camp since 2009 (I couldn’t remember, but Matthew told us when we checked him in at the camp). The first time we left him at camp, Jim was a bit hesitant. “Do you think he’ll be okay?” I squeezed Jim’s hand and said, “He’ll be fine. He’ll soar.” From an early age, Matthew has had the love of the Lord in his heart. I don’t know when he invited Jesus into his heart, but there’s no question in my mind that he did. When we picked him up from camp during one of the years, the kids had written their names on a poster and others wrote something about that camper by their name. Next to Matthew’s name? Practices what he preaches. And the one that grabbed this mama’s heart? An angel in disguise.
Matthew has a genuine love of the Lord which he extends to others. He’s taught me so much about life, about how to respond to others, and how to truly love others with an agape love. We picked him up from camp (where he plans on being a junior counselor next year), and our son was baptized this past Sunday night. Praise the Lord! We waited until he came to tell us he was ready to make this public proclamation of his faith. Our church did the multiple baptisms in a local swimming park (complete with a huge slide and lazy river), and it was thrilling to see a good group of all ages being baptized that night. What a glorious event!
In large part, Matthew’s example of selfless love—in some ways a very innocent and trusting love—is one of the reasons I write the books I do. In my most recent release, Gentle Like the Rain, a little girl–in all her sweet, innocent, trusting faith–leads a grown, jaded man of the world to a personal relationship with Christ. That scene makes me cry every single time I read it, just as it made me cry when I first wrote it. I write books that focus on the good in others and show my characters working among others, Christians and non-Christians alike, to help them discover and draw out the very best in themselves. I have a child in my long-running Lewis Legacy Series coming up who is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. His name is Michael (a clue to any of my readers who might recall where that name might come from in the layered history of my various characters), and Michael is closely patterned after our own Matthew. It is my hope that I can bring about more awareness of the syndrome so that others will perhaps better understand the lives of those living with it and the family and friends who love them dearly.
I don’t know if Matthew will ever drive, live on his own, or marry. He told me not long ago, “I think I’d make a good father.” He would, but I don’t know if that will ever happen for him. But, as we all know, all things are possible with God. I pray there’s a special young lady out there for him. If not, I know he’ll be okay, and our door will always be open to him. He made good grades in high school in subjects I would flunk in a heartbeat, and now he’s doing the same in a two-year trade school. I have no doubt he will find a good job and be a hard worker (he works part-time on the weekends now and paid his own way to camp). He tells the girls they’re beautiful and means it. He tells others about how Jesus loves them and knows that love in his own heart. Perhaps part of the beauty of Matthew is that he doesn’t see himself as different. As such, he’s not hampered by the expectations of others, a unique blessing in itself. Matthew is simply…Matthew. A very special person indeed.
So, this post is my love letter to my precious son. And to say, “Thank you, God, for the gift of Matthew.”
Blessings,
~JoAnn
Matthew 5:16
USA Today bestselling author JoAnn Durgin is the author of over twenty novels since her debut, Awakening (Lewis Legacy Book 1), released in late 2010. Her books include the beloved Lewis Legacy Series, as well as its prequel, Prelude. She is also the author of Catching Serenity, Heart's Design, and Gentle Like the Rain, a sequel to Heart's Design. Other novels include Echoes of Edinburgh, The Wondrous Love Series, Perchance to Dream, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series. Her latest release is The Christmas Challenge and coming up next is Pursuit, the highly anticipated Book 8 in The Lewis Legacy Series. JoAnn lives with her family in her native southern Indiana and now enjoys writing full-time and spending time with her first granddaughter, Amelia Grace. Sharing the hope and joy to be found in a relationship with Christ is her passion, and JoAnn adores writing and reading Christian romance. She loves to hear from her readers via her website or her Author JoAnn Durgin page on FB!
This is so beautiful, JoAnnn. Thank you for introducing us to Michael. How blessed we are that the Lord equips us with the strength we need for every challenging situation. I love the photo of the three children!
This was lovely and I have tears in my eyes. Thanks for your honest sharing. My oldest son is about to turn 8 and has been diagnosed with something similar- he looks like everyone else, but his brain works quite differently, making social interactions and the boundaries that come with them, more of a challenge. I often pray that God will teach me patience, and find it ironic that God gifted me with my precious boy who is certainly forcing me to continually seek patience and wisdom from God. Thanks JoAnn, praise God for His tender heart and love shining through your son.
Love this, JoAnn. Thanks for sharing your boy with us.
Inspirational blog how children are a gift from God (that is what name Matthew means). I can relate to much in this blog. In the 25 years my husband was pastor, I often had to protect our three sons from “senior saints.” My oldest son is named Matthew, a gift from God. In 1984 while Christmas shopping at a Chicago mall, my middle son Jonathan – age 3 – ran away. The local news channel had just done a news segment about blond haired, blue eyed boys being taken. It was the time when missing kids where pictured on milk cartoons. I identify with the fear, my heart raced; but the clerks went on alert. A kind grandma saw Jonathan wondering toward the entrance to the mall and when she didn’t see an adult with him, stopped him. Angels were guarding him.
Since high school, I have pursued everything I Abraham Lincoln. A history teacher in the area looks just like Abraham Lincoln. If your family has not visited Abraham Lincoln’s Museum in Springfield, Illinois, I think you and your son would enjoy the experience. The whole life of Lincoln from birth to his funeral is presented in one place – with many hand on displays. In one presentation a presenter discusses Lincoln portrait first as a hologram and then during the presentation appears as a person. Another presentation about the civil war, one can feel when the cannons fire in your seat. At the Springfield cemetery where Lincoln is buried, your son can rub Lincoln’s nose. He will always remember everything Lincoln. Well worth a trip to Springfield, Illinois.
Thanks for sharing your personal story about your love for your son and love for the creator.
Thanks for sharing. Lord bless you and your family. We have a child in our Sunday school class who is more on the autistic side of the spectrum. His parents are really patient with him. We try to find ways to include him in what the other children are doing.
Wow! What a beautiful tribute to your precious son, JoAnn. Thank you for sharing your heart.
A beautiful tribute to Matthew. I’ve never met anyone that I knew had Asperger’s but I think you have painted a great picture with your words of a beautiful soul. Thank you for this post.
Thank you, Jill. Yes, the Lord does equip us! Matthew has been a joy and even “normal” children have challenges. Like Matthew himself, our challenges have been unique, but they have changed and often enriched our lives in immeasurable ways. Blessings.
Ah, Wemble, I struggle with IMpatience every day. I used to have a sign hanging above my kitchen window in Boston that read, “Lord, grant me patience. But hurry!” :) I will pray for you, your son, and your family. I love how you said “God gifted me with my precious boy” because these children are indeed such a blessing. God bless you, and thank you for sharing such a deeply personal part of your life.
Thank you, Elizabeth. Blessings.
Thank you, JoAnn, for sharing your son. What a precious love letter that has left me with a tear streaked face. I, too, loved the scene from “Gentle Like the Rain”! And, contractor all of you on Matthew’s baptism!
Blessings!
Ugh…spelling autocorrect….contractor=congratulations to
Renate, we do indeed seem to have much in common. Thank you for sharing. As a matter of fact, guess where we’re headed a week from today? Springfield, Illinois! We are going to the Abraham Lincoln Museum there, and I’ll have to add the cemetery to the itinerary (my husband does the planning and I’ll mention this to him). But rubbing Lincoln’s nose? I’ll have to check into that. :) When actor Sam Waterston did a national tour portraying Lincoln, I arranged for Matthew to meet him (fought another snowstorm that threatened to cancel the event), and that was a highlight for Matthew. What’s interesting is that Sam stayed in character AS Lincoln since he seemed to understand Matthew. We also went to Lincoln’s Birthplace in Hodgenville, KY, when Matthew was a few years younger, and I believe I could have bought all of his Christmas gifts there. I appreciate your comment. Blessings.
Thank you, Diana. The Lord teaches us patience in dealing with children with autism, but it’s well worth the effort. I appreciate the comment. Blessings!
Thank you, Kathleen. Blessings!
Thank you, Connie. I’m glad I could give you a glimpse into the world of Asperger’s. I appreciate your comment. Blessings.
Autocorrect can be a pain, I know! Sometimes in an inadvertently comical way. I hope Gentle Like the Rain made you laugh a little, too. I like to give a nice balance in my books. But that scene in Gentle was one of my personal favorites that I’ve ever written (in 19 books and counting). Blessings, and thank you for reading and commenting on the blog today. :)
What an amazing, inspirational post, JoAnn! Your love for your son shines through every word. I didn’t know much about Asperger’s syndrom, and I understand it better now. This post was filled with wisdom and encoragement. Many blessings to you and your family!
Thank you for stopping by Inspy Romance today, Alexa! I hope we’ll be seeing you more here. :) I’m grateful that my words can give you a better understanding of Asperger’s and Matthew’s world (and ours). Blessings to you!
What a beautiful tribute to Matthew. Brought tears to my eyes. Tears of joy for the blessing he is. Thank you JoAnn for sharing him.
What a lovely tribute! Blessings on your boy.
Thank you, Robin! He is indeed a huge blessing in our lives, and to those around him, as well. And I thank the Lord every day for blessing our family with Matthew. I appreciate your stopping by Inspy Romance today! :)
Thank you, Valerie. :)
Thank you for sharing about Matthew. I worked in a classroom for children with autism (3- and 4-year-olds) for 10 years. A few of those had Asperger’s. I didn’t really have much contact with older individuals with autism or Asperger’s, so I really enjoyed “meeting” Matthew. He is a special person and so is his mom.
Awww! JoAnn, I love your post, and I love the way your love for Matthew shines through. Oh, I so wish my darling husband had been similarly blessed! As you know, my lovely husband is also on the autistic spectrum.
He sounds a lot like Matthew. A heart full of love, an incredibly gifted brain, talents I can’t come near being able to match. Yet huge challenges in understanding and communicating some things. He finds the world such a confusing and difficult place at times.
Love is the only answer, as always! God is teaching me so much about love and patience through a life with this wonderful man!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Susan. I appreciate teachers and all those who work with children, including those with special needs (which is unfortunately on the rise in America). Blessings to you.
You are so special, Autumn, and your heart and love shines through in all your posts, but especially the ones when you talk about your lovely husband. LOVE is indeed the only answer, as God gave us with HIS most precious Son. Let your light continue to shine, my friend. Hugs and blessings! :)
Great letter JoAnn! Matthew is such a blessing. I am excited to watch him through your eyes. Looking forward to meeting Michael in an upcoming book. I’m thinking hard about where he might fit in the Teamwork family.
Yesterday I told you I’ve been reading how close we readers feel to you authors when we read your blog posts and your replies to our comments. Today I’m at a loss for words. It might be your most personal post so far (you said it on FB), and I’d add it’s also a huge example of how much you find us trustworthy of your life/family story. Thank you! And what an amazing story!!!
I’ve read this post early morning how I usually do, but I didn’t really know what to say. As a trained psychologist I’ve learned a lot about Asperger and I have close friends who made a (professional and personal) commitment to work with kids and families living with autism. I find it admirable and commendable to see families working together to give their best to children on the autism spectrum. We know these children can achieve great things in life, but that’s only possible with a good support network–and there’s no better encouragement than love from the family.
I’m sure the selfless love (that is one of the reasons you write) comes in many ways from and to your son. I do think all five of you (3 children, right?) are probably very special, but your Matthew might be the key that reminds you of the beauty of God’s given life.
Thank you, Amy! Love seeing you here and commenting on Inspy Romance. :) You’ll figure out who Michael’s parents are, I’m sure. Blessings.
Priscila, I always love your very thoughtful and insightful comments. Thank you. You “get” me in so many ways, and that’s one reason I’m sure you enjoy the books I write. I learned some things about you in your comment that I didn’t know, either. You are trained in psychology whereas I call myself an armchair psychologist, much as Sam thought in Awakening. I’m thankful there are skilled professionals who are willing to work with these very special kids/people with autism. The challenges with Matthew have been minimal compared to what many face, and they are lifelong challenges. And yes, we have the three children and now one beautiful granddaughter, Amelia Grace. I love the last line of your comment, and I do believe you are exactly right. Thank you again. Blessings!
What a beautiful love story! Thank you!
The feeling is mutual: I usually think you “get” me in so many ways when you write stories that touch me deeply. Blessings to you and your family (all 6 of you!).
Thank you for stopping by the blog today, Joy! I appreciate the comment. Blessings to you.
Thank you for such a beautiful introduction to your son! What a blessing.
Only one word comes to mind–beautiful. My eyes are watering.
Thank you for taking the time to read it, Deb. Congrats on your new publishing contract! Blessings. :)
Thank you for taking the time to read it, Kimberly. I have to admit my eyes watered as I just read it again, too. But in the BEST way. :) Blessings.
Matthew makes me smile every time I see him (at The Gathering) and he’s been a blessing to me since I first met him. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Hi Brett! Thank you so much for reading the blog today. Your comment made me smile. Matthew loves coming to The Gathering. I might share this blog on that group page, as a matter of fact. Blessings to you! :)
What a beautiful post. It brought tears to my eyes as I read about such a special young man.
JoAnn Durgin in Springfield at the cemetary by Lincoln’s grave – they give tours – is a bronze statue of Lincoln’s Face and every body rubs Lincon’s nose and the nose is now a gold color. It is a local custom that is explained at the grave presentation – you can find information on the Internet. I have also been to Hodgenville, KY and the state Park and his childhood home in Indiana. I have seen everything Lincoln except the Ford theater in Washington DC. Enjoy your vacation!
Awww, JoAnn. You’ve got me wiping away tears. What a beautiful tribute to your precious Matthew. I loved every word. It rang out with such love and pride. And I really feel as if I know Matthew now. He is a gift from God and a blessing for your family. My daughter had a classmate with Aspbergers and he was super smart. He graduated two years early and went over to England to attend Oxford, Your son seems very bright as well. And the pictures are adorable. The last one where he is smiling is so precious. And as you said, you can’t predict his future, but you do know that he will be fine…and his love for the Lord speaks volumes. Well done, my friend.
Soooo, I’m writing through the blurry tears in my eyes…..what an awesome son you have! Thank you for sharing this with all of us!!! {{hugs}} <3
JoAnn – This brought me to tears. Sweet precious tears. I remember those scares with Matty’s (he will always be Matty to me!) escapes and so happy to see him safely grown into a man that loves the Lord. Thank you for sharing with us all.
My 21-year-old, Jacob, is a lot like your Matthew. He is a walking, talking encyclopedia of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and can give you specs and release dates on more video games than you ever wanted to know about. After an exhaustive all-day evaluation at UNC-Chapel Hill when he was 9, I was told he would likely never drive, never be able to keep track of his own bank account, and never live on his own. As we got in the car to leave, he looked at me and said, “Those people think I’m stupid, don’t they, Mommy.” He’s had his own bank account for more than four years and his driver’s license for almost two. In less than a month, he will start at the local community college in their computer animation and digital effects program. If living with Jacob has taught me nothing else, it is to have faith and be patient. God attends to all things in His own time and His own way.
Thank you so much, Ann. He is indeed very special. Thank you for dropping by Inspy Romance today. Blessings!
Thank you so much, Belle. Oxford? Wow. That’s amazing, but it doesn’t surprise me a bit. Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today. Blessings!
Thank you, Lisa. Matthew has a lot of love to share. I appreciate your stopping by the blog today and leaving a comments! Blessings.
Awww, Elaine. I wondered if you’d read this and perhaps leave a comment. I thought of you when I read through those portions of this blog post. :) Hugs and blessings to you!
I LOVE your story of Jacob, Laura! Thank you so much for sharing. Sounds like he’s indeed a very intelligent (and perceptive) young man. It does sound as though our sons have some things in common. The story of Jacob is encouraging to me in terms of driving and banking. And it sounds as though Jacob has found his niche with a future career perhaps. Matthew is studying drafting, and I think he will do well and continue to impact those around him. And yes, I’ve learned to be more patient by having Matthew in my life. I love your last line! I’ve always said (about my writing journey and other things in life) that it’s all in God’s perfect timing. I appreciate your stopping by the blog today! Many blessings.
I see. Thanks for the explanation…never heard of the tradition/custom of rubbing Lincoln’s nose. Interesting! I’ve been to Ford’s Theater but it was years ago. We need to take Matthew again. He loved the Lincoln Memorial and has built that with Lego blocks and drawn it numerous times. Thanks for the information! It’s a quick trip, but I’m sure we will have fun. :)
What a wonderful tribute to Matthew. Knew he was a significant young man from our online chats, but its easier to understand how truly remarkable he is. Missed reading this yesterday, but what a great way to start today. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Joelle, and thanks for reading it! I have to tell you, I was at a Cracker Barrel last night for dinner and I asked them about fried cornbread. Turns out they HAVE it, but a customer has to know to ask for it. Who knew? Next time. Our server told me she likes it better than their regular cornbread muffins. (For anyone else reading this, my next book is set in Georgia, and Joelle helped me with some ideas for popular foods there.) Blessings to you for a great weekend, my friend. :)
What a beautiful love letter,JoAnn. Matthew is lucky to have you as a Mom.
Thank you so much, Linda. We are both blessed, I know that much. God is good, all the time. Blessings to you, my friend! :)
What a sweet tribute to your son JoAnn! My son Michael is almost the same as yours. He’s intelligent to a fault & easily gets stuck on one subject for a long while. But his best attributes are he’s loving, kind, respectful, will do anything for anybody, loves to help where he can & just generally a happy young man. He’s also 19 and graduated in June, he’ll be attending our small community college for the next two years while living at home. He also loves the Lord with all his heart! Just the past few months we’ve seen huge steps in his faith walk, he wants to be in the Word, praying daily (he’s recently made his bedroom a prayer room), and desires to now be a part of our adult Bible study on Wednesday nights and during Sunday service; whereas before he was helping with the younger kids in Sunday school & on Wednesday nights. As he puts it, he wants to learn more because he’s now an adult. His understanding of all things concerning the Lord is astounding! And he asks my husband questions when he doesn’t understand something or needs more clarification. I can see God (finally) fulfilling a prophecy for our son that was given to us when we were pregnant with him. He said that His words would flow out of him….WOW! I can picture him someday being a youth pastor or something along those lines. I long for the day God calls him into ministry….but maybe that’s just my mama heart :-)
Just like your Matthew, there have been days that are harder than others. Struggles that left us with no energy or know-how to help him. Our reliance on God has been daily at His feet, bringing our needs to Him and asking for His infinite wisdom to guide us with our son. Many tears shed, many worries about everyday life stuff, and we’ve had to daily place our boy into His hands. But we’re starting to see the fruit of our labors, God’s giving us glimpses of His work in Michael’s heart. Now our prayers have turned to God’s help in keeping him grounded and strong in the faith, ever seeking His face in everyday life. This world is a challenge to the most “normal” person, but for young men like ours, it can be overwhelming! We just pray that he will keep in the Word daily, praying about everything without ceasing & keep desiring more Christ-likeness in his own walk.
Wonderful post JoAnn! We have such amazing and special young men that God has entrusted to our care! And He daily gives us the strength to do what we need to do as parents in guiding them as adults. I’m going to be keeping your family in my prayers because I know what it can be like. God gave us a treasure in Matthew and Michael :-)
Blessings to you and your family, Trixi! Thank you so much for sharing about Michael (I hope you saw that I have an autistic child coming up in my Lewis Legacy Series…and his name is Michael). :) Yes, it indeed sounds as though our sons are very similar in a number of ways. And your Michael is as much a blessing as Matthew has been for us. Going to the Lord in prayer has likewise gotten us through many a challenging situation, and He always sustains and provides. Amen! That’s so awesome in the steps of faith Michael has taken recently (a prayer room…I love it! — did he/you see War Room?), and our Matthew is very involved in the young adult ministry now at church. Even with Matthew’s challenges, this mama’s heart hopes, too, that someday Matthew might go into a church ministry of some type. Even if not, he ministers to people more than he knows, and I’m sure Michael does, as well. I’ve received so many wonderful messages from people on Facebook who know Matthew and have been blessed by something he’s said or done (even since this was posted here yesterday on Inspy Romance). Your Michael and your family will also be in my prayers! Again, Trixi, thank you so much for sharing your heart! Blessings. :)
That is beautiful JoAnn, Makes me smile and tear-up all at the same time. Loved it!
I do the same thing, Sandy! Thank you for reading it and leaving a comment. Blessings!
As I read your post, glory bumps rose and tears blurred my vision, JoAnn. It’s beautiful, and I thank you for sharing. I have a grandson who’s been diagnosed with a number of autism instead of a name…I’m not around him as my daughter is estranged–her choice–14 years ago. So sad and disappointing for any mother, but…I pray. I’d love for her to be able to read this. Atticus is only three now, four in November.
Dear JoAnn, many many years ago in England before we had names for the Autistic Spectrum, people who were different were called eccentric. Little was really done for them so these lovely special young men and woman lived their lives within our society and many married. It is only now as we look back that we see elements of Autism in their traits and mannerism. Your Matthew, God willing, will one day marry a compassionate young lady who sees him for the wonderful person that he is. I just wanted you to know that Matthew has every chance of fulfilling God’s plan for him, and with God nothing is impossible. I live with an eccentric husband and we celebrate our 24th anniversary tomorrow. Big hug and many blessings. x
Thank you for your kind words, Caryl. I appreciate your visiting the blog and reading my post about Matthew. I will pray for your grandson and the relationship with your daughter. God knows, and He can work miracles, as we both know. And I adore the name Atticus since To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books, and my sweet husband took me to Harper Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, AL, this year to see the local production of the play. I hope that somehow your daughter might see this post! Blessings to you.
Thank you for visiting the blog and leaving a comment. I love those who are eccentric…they are fascinating! And you are indeed so right in that NOTHING is impossible for our God. Matthew has so much love to give, and he has spread the joy of the Lord to many. There is no doubt in my mind that God has a very special plan in mind for our son, but only He knows what that is. Maybe even in ministry of some type (although he already ministers to people in his own way). It will be exciting to watch as Matthew fulfills the Lord’s plan for him! Blessings, and happy anniversary to you and your husband tomorrow! :-)
Thank you JoAnn. Matthew will do extremely well because you love and have empathy for him. Your belief in his potential will be key and God will do the rest. Many blessings.
Hi JoAnn! It was a real pleasure to meet you, Jim, and Matthew 630 feet above the earth at the Gateway Arch. Thanks for letting us know about this awesome post – so beautifully written, so encouraging, and so inspirational.
Well, hello there! I’m so thankful you found the post. Blessings to you and please say hello to Austin for me!