Spontaneous praise

Oh no! Isaac found something. 

Oh no! Isaac got into something he should not have. 

I cannot adequately share the mental shift my mind and heart go when Isaac is “triggered.”

Autism and all the elements of Isaac’s needs (and how disability affects him and us as a family) is incredibly complex. Yet, in some areas Isaac is very simple.

He likes his pool.

His loves Chick Fil A. 

He’s never met a cupcake he didn’t enjoy.

I long for connection with Isaac.

When I meditate on heaven, the first thing I desire is to hug Jesus. Not a side hug, or awkward hug. I desire a long embrace where I bury my face in His chest and I can hear Him breathing. I want to smell Him and be intoxicated by His aroma of grace and love.

After this long awaited hug filled with praise and tears of joy, I want to have a conversation with Isaac. 

(I’ll save the details of this for another blog!) 

Yesterday (July 8, 3023) Isaac had a breakthrough. I wanted desperately to write about this because I know many of you pray for him.

He found four Veggie Tales books at a friend’s house recently and this caused severe anxiety and obsession for Isaac. (A triggered moment) He was blessed with them as a “gift” (there was no turning back- if he finds veggie tales at your home, consider it a gift to Isaac… you ain’t getting it back!!)

Isaac then proceeded to stare at the books for hours, this turned into days and eventually he ripped the pages.

He then began to cry.

To see your 15 year old son (who looks like a man) crying real giant tears just breaks me.

That is the thing with trials…. You feel like you’ve surrendered something to the LORD only to be challenged and broken and shattered all over again. 

I tried to soothe him. I prayed for him.

For a day and a half it was still upsetting him…

In a turn of events, he found a ripped page from of one of the books…

He was staring at it… fixated and totally engrossed.

It was a picture that said “November” and was Bob and Larry and the gang seated around a table with a turkey and yummy food for Thanksgiving. 

Isaac looked at the ripped book page and said to me as clear as I have ever heard “Thank you Jesus for this food, AMEN.”

I was stunned. My sweet special disabled son understood the photo meant we should pray and give thanks.

I am trying my best to express the moment here in words… but I cannot. It was a breakthrough moment. A moment of spontaneous praise.

I give God all the glory!   

Why was this a breakthrough Laura? 

This moment was a breakthrough because the prayer was not written in the book. The words were written on his heart. The words on the page said something entirely different. But Isaac understood-during Thanksgiving (and every day) we thank Jesus for our food. 

This is also a Breakthrough because Isaac loves to eat. 

She really enjoys eating whether it’s a full meal a snack or delicious treats. Even our daughter Olivia has said that she loves to see Isaac smiling & even humming softly when he eats because he’s really enjoying the moment & the food! 

Oh GOD, I praise you for this breakthrough! You inspire us to pray and you have taught Isaac to pray. Oh JESUS we adore you!