Blessed to have an autistic child? SAY WHAT!

        Today I have been doing what I do almost everyday.  Getting in Alden's face as much as I can and pushing him to use the limited but emerging communication skills he has.  I've thought a lot about the future which is usually when I get scared and start feeling sorry for myself. However, I had a different thought today as I reflected on the last few days, how I reacted, the conversation I had with Brandon the night we "got the news", the kind words of love and support from everyone around us, ect.  You may be surprised to hear I decided this is as big of a blessing as it is work!  Yes, blessing, that's what I said, and there will be day's it doesn't feel like it.....but today I decided this is yet another blessing in my life.
        I have an older son, Jude, who is 3 years old and I love him JUST as much as I love Alden but in a very different way.  Now before you start to scoff as how I could even imply I love one child more/differently than the other, hear me out.  I have experiences with Jude that I dont have with Alden and vise versa.  All of the events and milestones we go through with our children mold our relationships with them.  I have put in a lot more work for EVERY milestone with Alden that I ever had to with Jude.  Not to discredit all of Jude's achievements, in fact it makes me appreciate his even more!  I blows my mind (having been on the other end of the spectrum) that they we achieved so seamlessly.  But when you have to work so hard and for so long to get your child to realize that you are even in the room those milestones, that you may have missed entirely with your other child, hold a very special place in your heart.  My relationship with Alden will be blessed by all of our experiences together.
         My walk with God has grown so much stronger through this process.  I have a very different understanding of phrases that we have all heard or said, "let go and let God" "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" " It's all a part of God's plan" I have felt more connected and closer than ever before to the Lord.  So often events like this can hinder your faith, I feel blessed that I have had a very different experience. 
         My marriage has been blessed.  Brandon and I have had conversations that we would have never dreamed we would have to have.  We have learned so much more about each other and from each other through all of this.  Again, events life this so often hurt a marrige because they are on different pages so to speak.  They have different ideas or plans for care.  Or one can't handle the stress and the other partner is stuck taking it all on themselves.  AGAIN I am proud to report this has not been my experience. I believe this has been a blessing to my marriage.
           As I said before, it's not all bubbles and sunshine just because you are a Christian, but my faith has made this experience so different from what you may hear, read, or see statics on.  If you are experiencing anything like our situation I highly encourage you to seek counsel with a pastor.  If you dont know the Lord now is the time to do so.