October 7, 2011
Revised February 3, 2017
Autism is not a disease, but it can be detrimental to the development of a child. Extra care must be given when dealing with an autistic child. It needs awareness, understanding,acceptance and love.
This blog is for my youngest son who was diagnosed Autism 2009.
His name is Edel
Meaning: Brave,Noble
Qualities: Leader, Visionary
People having the name Edel are in general originating from Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United States of America.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
I want to know what God was thinking when He gave me a child with special need. I really do. I want to know why He put this child under my care to nurture and to grow. Why couldn’t I just have two ‘normal’ boys? Why was I given a special child? Selfish thoughts, I know, but they are honest thoughts no one wants to say out loud. Please don’t misunderstand. I love my son more than anything but I really, really want him to have a normal life. I don’t want him to face adversity. I don’t want him to be made fun of or have his feelings crushed. I want him to be able to go to ‘normal’ school and just be a boy.
I begin to see that this is how God felt about His Son. He didn’t want Him to grow up and be crucified. God knew that it would take His Son’s life to to redeem this fallen world. He gave His Son life, just to have it taken away from Him again. But what happened after that was worth every bit of suffering and pain. What He had endured at the hands of mere men is the ‘hope’ we are reaping today.
This thought made me hold on to my son. Though there are adversities here on this earth, His eternity will be so much sweeter. There my sons will be whole. Their life here will have meaning as long as I am raising them to love Jesus and to depend on His strength.
Writing this, made me realize at least a part of the reason why God gave me a special child like Edel. So I could learn to lean on Him and to draw my strength from Him. God entrusted me with a treasure, even if I choose not to see it sometimes. I am blessed and will continue to be, as I raised these children into the man God has designed them to be. I thank God for the gift He has given to me, the gift He chose just for me.
LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES AND CHALLENGES. All I need to do is to look to GOD alone, the author and perfecter of my faith. Trust…Lean on HIM alone.
Now my son is in inclusive school and doing pretty well.
I remember the e-mail of my friend (Maj) when I posted this blog in FB notes.
This is what she said:
I look at Edel and I think God was thinking He’ll make a little boy so absolutely adorable and kind, and whose life will be a story of faith and hope and love despite all obstacles and He forged Edel into the exact person he is today.
I believe that the people who have made such a powerful impact in the world have been those who seem to have been given grossly unjust burdens to bear and yet have been able to withstand the weight with such grace and humility that the world cannot help but be amazed.
Edel has the makings of being one of those men, Ate Loi.
And we are witnesses to his story unfolding, and God’s power in his life being made manifest on a daily basis.
I look at Edel and I see such hope for a future beyond my imagining.
For our God is a God who chose to use a cowardly Gideon, an inarticulate Moses, and a little boy with 2 fish and a loaf of bread to change history. He is a God who uses the weak things of this world to shame the strong.
Where Edel is weak, God is strong for him. 😊
GOD indeed knows every details of our lives. HE knows our name. He sends storms to prove HE is the ONLY shelter we can take refuge in.
God said I will never fail you, I will never forsake you. Heb.13:5..
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (NLT) Deuteronomy 31:8
For the record and for God’s glory this is the life events of God’s BIG and amazing miracles to Edel
1. July 22,2008 When he was yet an infant, 4 hours of his life after birth he almost died and Praise God for His goodness and mercy that endures forever.
2. When he was 1-year-old. He was diagnosed autism and Praise God for gradually healing him and making him whole.
3. When he was almost 2years old he fell on the ground, bumped his head on the floor and literally died. Praise God for giving him another life again!
4. June 29,2016 MARKS another amazing and awesome story and testimony for the life of EDEL. He fell down on 1.5-meter-high double deck. Praise God for His protection and quick miracle on Edel’s life!
The ups and downs of Edel’s life bring beauty in unforeseen ways. His life events batter us down. Good thing is, his faith in God determine the outcome. It’s easy to stay focus on himself as a victim. But for God’s glory he overcame all of this and he was able to recover by placing his faith in God. Even more, he can come out as a better person and excel beyond his imagination.
God is awesome and faithful! He is true to His promises. Remember, God has the power to make the things we can’t see to appear. It just takes a little faith. God is a master restorer. He makes the impossible, possible. Yes GOD is real on HIS promises. All HIS promises are YES and AMEN..
To end this, Only GOD can turn a MESS into sa MESSage, a TEST into a TESTimony, a TRIAL into a TRIumph a VICTIM into a VICTORY. Only A Master can take something Ordinary and create it into something Extraordinary so that it may have a meaning in life. God is changing Edel’s Mess-terpiece into His Master-piece. The Master Artist is carving something in him.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Psalm 91:14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
v. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.
v. 16 I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
