Letter to Santa

This evening I walked out into the living room to see a note and cookies. Joshua was planning early. I smiled as I looked at this and at the same time I was reminded of my son’s Autism and where it has him.

I’m not talking about his mind and that he will “always be as a child.” (He has displayed incredible maturity in his thoughts. I do believe his faith in Christ will always be like a child...I don't mean immature...but rather always knowing, believing and trusting that Jesus is who He says He is. That He is his Savior and that He is the one he goes to with all his needs and praise...leaving them there and knowing that God heard him. Something many lose as they grow older.) Believe it or not, our son knows that Santa is not real. He will tell you that Santa is just a character, and that Mrs. Claus and the elves are also fake. He knows that I will be the one to eat the cookies and drink the milk. So, why put out the letter and cookies? Because that is what people do. He has watched and heard people talking about putting out cookies. There are commercials on TV about it, TV shows that do it and families tell their little ones that they need to remember to put out cookies and milk for Santa.

Our son is a mimicker. He looks to everyone for social cues. That means, he looks to you and me to see what we are doing. This is his way of coping and “fitting” into our world. Whether we do something that is appropriate or not appropriate…he will mirror back what he sees. So…the cookies and letter are a reminder to me of my son who lives with Autism, and how he longs to be part of our world and wanting to know how to live in our society and to not only relate, but have relationship.

I learn so much from Joshua that continues to draw me deeper in my relationship with Christ. Yesterday was one of them as he told everyone at church, “We all need to follow Jesus because he died on the cross for our sins and now He is alive.”

My prayer this Christmas…is that my life…my social cues will be those that draw Him deeper in his relationship with Christ.

How are you living your life? Who is watching you? People don’t have to have Autism to take on our “social cues”….how we face life, circumstances…moments that challenge our daily life. The stop light, the slow driver, snow, frustration, anger, fear, anxiety, joy, praise, humbleness…

Thank you, Lord for Joshua’s letter. Thank you for the reminder and thank you for the talk he and I had about the letter…and the talk we had about YOU. May my walk each day be one that reflects You. May it draw both my children towards You and may they fall deeply in love with YOU!