Callum's Prayer (Prayer for An Autistic Child)

 

Lord, I know that all autistic children are Your children and that You love them all equally.  But I have only this autistic child, and I confess to loving him most of all.  I want so many blessings for this child.  Thank You for this gift of his life.  For, though he was not the child I imagined, he is the child I cannot imagine having never had.  Please, as he grows, guide him toward:

Faith – because hope is as necessary to the soul as water to the body.

Confidence – in his abilities and worth, in order to convey them to others who might not see them immediately.

Courage – to face fear, to live despite losses, and most importantly – to try.

Curiosity – about himself, others, and the sometimes confusing world around him, for that is how he will learn.

Patience – for others who may have trouble understanding his needs.

Calm – when the chaos of the world threatens to overwhelm.

Resolve – to stand up for himself and those needs, even when backing down seems easier.

Prudence – to know when to seek help and advice from others.

Interests – that he he can both immerse himself in and that can offer him an opportunity to contribute to his world.

Friends – who will love him as he his, enjoy his eccentricities, and be there in his need.

Wisdom – to understand that none of these–none of them– are the result of luck or birth, but of his own choices.

Please, Lord, when I cannot be there, send Your angels to keep my child from harm, and guide him always closer to the peace and love and light that is You.

Amen.