From Autism to Awesome - Don't Let What You Can't See Keep You From What Can Be

This week part of my family and I have been in Milwaukee, WI at the Autism Society of America national conference.  We came to host a booth selling my son, Trent's, art.  Last year (July 2016) a video of Trent drawings animals on our trampoline went viral and has now been seen by over 51 million people worldwide.

So in the last year we've created a website selling all kinds of items with his art on them.  He has 2 coloring books, T-shirts and ball caps, Tumblers and occasion cards as well as framed art prints.  But I'm not telling you this to talk about Trent, but about God.

When Trent was diagnosed with Classic Autism at the age of 2 we were devastated.  What took place over the next 10+ years was the biggest struggle of our lives.  As Trent got older he also got violently aggressive.  It got to the point that Trent could not be home unless I was there because he could over-power everyone in the house except me.

During those years of my wife and I taking turns staying up most of the night in the living room to keep eye on Trent - who didn't sleep, or fighting with him, or having to explain to our other children why he destroyed their favorite things, or never knowing what was going to set him off, we couldn't see beyond just survival.

During a spiritually difficult time in Israel when Ahab was king the prophet Elijah showed up and announced God was going to stop the rain.  3.5 years later Elijah said to Ahab, "there is the sound of heavy rain."  The only problem was that it still hadn't rained.  Elijah went and prayed, SEVEN times actually before the rain came.

Those years when Trent was at his worst were very difficult.  Difficult on our marriage.  Difficult on our kids.  Difficult on our finances. And I'm sure, difficult on Trent (did I mention he has very limited verbal abilities and can't tell us if he hurts, or has a headache or a splinter?).  It was difficult to see that things could ever be different than they were right then.  But God had other plans.

When this post goes public we'll be on our 4th and final day at the conference and as I write this (Monday morning) I'm not fearful or worried about the trip or about how Trent is going to do.  God has been so faithful to us and Trent has almost no physical outbursts, he is compliant and easy-going most of the time (unless you mess with his radio on the way to school in the morning).  He laughs and makes jokes, kind of, and is a usually a joy to be around.

He's been on a mini-midwest tour already with a company, GroVia that turned his art into a cloth diaper and we've sold his art and items all over the world.  We didn't think any of this was even a possibility but we're so grateful to God and His sovereignty and providence.

Here's why I'm telling you about our story - I don't want you to let what you CAN'T see, keep you from what CAN be.  I know you may be struggling right now, but you won't always.  I know it's difficult now, but it won't always be.  You may not have the same outcome as we have, though we wish everyone could, but you have a promise that, this too shall pass.  I have a friend who likes to say, we're gonna be dead a lot longer than we're alive.  I think our real life will begin when this life ends - but however you want to think of it, there will come an end to your struggles, to your pain, to  your sorrow.  One day we'll see him face to face - that's a fantastic promise, no matter how bad it is now, God's got this.

Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean God can't make it happen.  Don't let what you can't see, keep you from what can be.

What are you having a hard time seeing?

If you want to see Trent in action you can check out www.drawingsbytrent.com