Autism & Encouragement

   A few days ago we had an encounter with someone who hasn't seen Caleb in about 2 years. 
   Caleb ran outside to greet this person, went on some semi-understandable rant about the visitors truck, threw a hummingbird mention in there because he loves them right now, and then hung around while my husband got ready to go with this friend. 
   A few hours later after my husband came back, he told me how his friend couldn't believe how far Caleb had come. All of the things he had done (greeting, talking, waiting around) were new things from the last few years.
   We are with Caleb everyday, and sometimes can't see the forest for the trees. We've been plugging away with Caleb for so long, and although we knew he had made improvements, it was such an encouragement to have someone come in and just see the "forest"; the cumulative change that our autistic son has made. 
   So, this post is brief, but is meant as an encouragement pass-on.
   As a parent, we tend to see things too close up. A fussy baby or a sulky teenager is maybe your daily experience-for now. We need to step back and see the whole picture. We need to take each day in stride, as well as see the big picture. 
   Sometimes when I'm painting a new picture, I can get fixated on a certain spot, and start to dislike the work I'm doing. So, I'll set the painting aside for a time. Then, one day I'll walk into the room where the painting is, and think, "oh wow, I think I like this". 
   You can't put your children or a season you're in your life aside because you don't like them or the situation (obviously...), but we can try to separate ourselves from the moment, and see what we're making, and what we're making beautiful, and who we're becoming in the midst of it all.
   Because it's hard for the person in that situation to see the big picture, we need to encourage them. In the same way that I knew Caleb has been making so many improvements, it was such a boost to hear someone else (especially someone who hadn't seen him in so long) say that they saw so much positive change. 
   Give a boost today, be an encourager, and let's help each other see the forest for the trees.  

xo    

Caleb running around after his remote control car. I love that he gets so much exercise because he doesn't know you can just stand still and drive it around. :)