The Joy in Trials

This past week we have been preparing Philip for his transition to public school.  He is very excited, but as to be expected for any child going through a major transition, he is also quite anxious.  We have been talking through his feelings and today we looked into God’s word to get some good perspective on facing trials.

We looked over the first chapter in the book of James.  A portion of what we read says:  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  (James 1:2-5)

Do you know what trials are?

It is a stressful time.

Do you face trials?

Y (for yes).  I am autistic.  I am mute and my challenge is proving I am smart.  I am assumed to be pretty stupid.  I am not in control of my body well.  No peace for my senses.

What does the Bible say about trials?

Trials are good bc (because) they help us to need God.  Trials are good bc each day we depend on giving each ounce of our need to God to answer our leaning-on-Him prayers.  

What is perseverance?

Never giving up.

How is this related to trials?

Trials test your faith.  Trials open you to God.  Trials educate you to know God and to become more like Jesus.

A couple of weeks ago we studied the famous photographer Dorothea Lange who took the iconic pictures of the Great Depression.  We studied that time period and looked at her pictures.  I had asked Philip his impression of them.  “I like them.  They show the tension of the testing of stressful times.”

Today we again looked at Lange’s photo “Migrant Mother” and the story behind the California pea pickers.  Philip wrote this response:

A Sad Time

A mom was poor to address money.  She understood she was each day trying to survive.  She and her kids each tried to pick enough food to eat.  She sold her car’s tires to make money.  Dorothea Lange took her picture.  She became famous.  There is always hope.  I am reaching out to the world to make my trials known so people will understand autism.   

 Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange

I Have A Dream

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Philip wrote his own "I Have A Dream Speech."

I Have A Dream
I have a dream that various languages would be recognized and each celebrated for its prime ability to give people a voice. Are understanding and your speech the same?  Each day I better myself by spelling my thoughts on a letterboard. I am each day trying new things. I dream of each day learning new things in an understanding world.  I dream of schools looking out for each person's best potential. I hate prejudice. It cons people into thinking they are better than others. Each day I am dreaming you treat us autistics with respect. In my dream you see us like you see yourself. I have a dream.

            

Stockade, St. Nick, and Santa

Today Philip participated in the Honor Ceremony for our Stockade Program at church.  He received a Sentinel Achievement Award for being one of the top stockaders for the fall for completing his achievements such as memorizing scripture verses and things like looking up family genealogies, helping in home improvement projects, and learning some sports skills (modified for what he can handle).   I am so proud of him!

Earlier today Philip wrote about his beliefs in Santa Claus.  Yesterday I had asked him if he wanted to learn about St. Nicholas or the Pope.  He had picked Saint Nicholas.  Also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker, Nicholas grew up in Turkey and was a defender of the Christian faith in the 4^th century when Christians were still severely  persecuted by the Romans under Emporer Diocletian.  Nicholas was imprisoned for his faith.  Nicholas was from a wealthy family.  After his parents died, he sold all he had to aid the poor and needy.  He was said to have saved 3 women from one family from a life of slavery or prostitution by throwing 3 bags of gold through the window of their home in the middle of the night.  The money was used to pay the women’s dowry for marriage, which was custom at that time.  Legend has it, the gold was tossed by the shoes that lay by the fire in order to dry.  This is where we get our custom of hanging our stockings by the chimney in which gold coins or oranges (representing gold) were anticipated to be given by St. Nick.  Nicholas later became the Bishop of Myra and participated in the Council of Nicea in 325AD in which much of the Christian faith was codified.  He was a staunch opponent of Arius, who claimed Jesus was not equal to God.  Nicholas was said to have punched Arius in the face in a heated argument.  Nicholas died on December 6 which later became the feast day of St. Nicholas and the original date for giving gifts to the poor in honor of Nicholas who lived his calling of defending the faith and helping the needy.

I asked Philip to write an essay about his belief in St. Nicholas or Santa Claus.  Here is what he wrote:

I believe in Saint Nicholas.  He was a bishop in Turkey.  He attracted some armies.  They arrested him for believing in Jesus.  He attracted notoriety because he argued Jesus was equal to God and punched Arius in the face.  Arius did not believe Jesus was God’s equal.  Nicholas gave his belongings to the poor and needy.  He is a good man to inspire others.  I am a fan of Nicholas.

“What about Santa Claus?” I asked.

Santa is not real.  He is ok.  I am not a believer in him and I am easy to please.  I am so lucky to haven’t had to make Santa a role model.

“Why is that?” I asked.

Because he has to get toys for every boy and girl.

I love Philip’s way of thinking.  So practical and true!

* Photo credits to Heather Hamilton and Paul Gulde.  They were faster than me!

 

Inspiration from Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela died yesterday, Dec. 5, 2013.  A man whose name became synonymous for peace and freedom, Mandela embodied a man we should all aspire to be like.  Today I taught Philip about apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s role in ending the system of forced segregation and reconciling South Africa as the nation’s first black president.  

After our lesson I asked Philip to name three facts about Nelson Mandela.  He responded on his letterboard: 1) He was imprisoned for starting a movement against apartheid, 2) He was a president, 3) He raised awareness about AIDS.

Philip wrote this tribute:  “Nelson Mandela I admire you for your courage. You gave people freedom from apartheid.  Please be remembered always.”

At bedtime, Philip spelled he was thankful for Nelson Mandela.

After I finished putting Philip to bed, I decided to continue to learn about Mandela.  I came across some of his most inspirational quotes.  Many of them bolster the hopes I have for Philip.  I will share them with him so that he may be encouraged too.

1)      “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” 

This is so true.  I cannot imagine how Mandela must have felt being in prison for a life sentence, 27 years served.  There must have been moments when he thought all hope was lost for his life and for the equality of those he went to prison advocating for.  What I have learned this past year in my own life is that I must never give up on a dream.  There was a time when I nearly stopped believing a decent life would be possible for Philip.  I am so glad I never completely gave up!  I can check off communication as an “impossible” goal that has been reached.  I now have other things on a list that still seems like a monumental climb, but I believe can be achieved: attending mainstream school, making a close friend, finding a hobby, earning a living.

2)       “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

      When Philip and I did our lessons on slavery, it was a theme that slaves were not allowed an education and were punished if they were discovered engaging in such a subversive activity as learning to read.  Those who did become educated, such as Frederick Douglass, were not only able to change their own lives, but also affect a change in society.  In the same way, Philip’s education will be a cornerstone for changing his life for the better.  His education has the potential to open the doors for others who cannot speak to communicate but are intelligent and misunderstood.  The current accepted system of education for non-speaking autistics is insufficient and needs to change.  Philip is among a growing group of non-speaking autistics like Tito, Ido, Naoki, Carly, and many others who are communicating effectively in alternative ways and proving to others they can learn just as any other person their age.

There are so many other pearls of wisdom from Mandela that need no explanation, but resonate so deeply in our experiences. 

3)      “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

4)      “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

5)      “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

6)      “Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.”

7)      “We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”

8)      “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”

9)      “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

10)   “I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.”

11)   “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

12)   “When people are determined they can overcome anything.”

RIP Nelson Mandela.  Thank you for leaving us all a lasting legacy.

                

                                      

       

Learning from History

I love teaching Philip history.  I have a much better appreciation for it now than I did when I was growing up.  There are so many life lessons to be learned in history as well as people to admire for their character, accomplishments, and place in history.  

One such man was Frederick Douglass, the subject of our lesson today.  Douglass was an African-American born into slavery around 1818.  As a baby he was separated from his mother and worked on a plantation.  When he was around 11 or 12 he was sent to serve in the house of Hugh Auld in Baltimore.  Auld's wife Sophia started teaching Douglass to read at age 12.  Douglass fondly described her as kind-hearted and treating him the way humans ought to treat one another.  However, when Mr. Auld found out about it, he quickly put an end to it, knowing that education would ignite the embers of discontent and flame the desire for freedom.  Despite this, Douglass continued to teach himself to read secretly by reading discarded newspapers and observing the writings of the people he worked with.  Douglass is quoted as saying "knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom."  

When Douglass was a teen he was returned to the plantation where he taught the other slaves to read the New Testament in Sunday school.  Eventually he was found out and was sent to work for a farmer with the reputation of being a "slave-breaker."  Douglass was regularly whipped and beaten.  Finally in 1838, Douglass was able to escape by boarding a train, disguised as a sailor.  

Douglass settled and married in Massachusetts.  There he met William Lloyd Garrison, a white abolitionist with whom he would work closely with, writing anti-slavery publications and giving lectures.  Douglass was a gifted orator who moved audiences with his personal account of slavery.  Douglass wrote his autobiography which became a best seller and furthered sympathy for the abolitionist movement.  However, skeptics doubted such eloquent literature could be produced by man of a supposedly lesser race.

Douglass championed equal rights for all.  He actively supported women's suffrage.  He said, "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."  Douglass strongly believed education was the key for African Americans to improve their lives.  He was an early advocate for desegregating schools.  During the Civil War, President Lincoln regularly conferred with Douglass  regarding the treatment of black soldiers and the emancipation of slaves in all the nation.  

I go through this history of Frederick Douglass' life and work because I see so many parallels between his life and my son's.  I see parallels in the Abolitionist and Civil Rights Movements of the past and the Disability Rights Movement of today.  I am touched at how a caring woman who treated young Frederick Douglass with kindness and respect, even though she was the wife of a slaveholder, made such a difference in his life and affected the freedom of countless others.  I'm amazed at Douglass' resiliency that despite countless beatings, he would not stop from securing freedom not only for himself, but for others too.  I'm impressed he told his story again and again despite skeptics saying a black man could not be intelligent.  He could not be denied his own story and because he was an insider, it was the most powerful.  Douglass partnered with people who did what was right and stayed away from those who did wrong.  He would not ally himself with radical abolitionists who espoused violence to justify its goals.  Douglass understood the importance of education and inclusion in helping all people be most successful in their lives.  

After learning about Frederick Douglass, Philip composed this essay.

Frederick Douglass

I can relate to Frederick Douglass except I am autistic not a slave. I tried talking but it did not work and I was mute.  I appreciate talking so much.  Frederick Douglass was active in fighting for freedom of slaves.  He wrote his autobiography and he attracted rallies for antislavery and support of abolitionism.  He attracted statesmen to join his cause.  As a liaison to the president every African American was represented.  He helped other slaves obtain freedom liberally.  I ask for the same freedom for my autistic friends.  I will fight for them.

 Philip's essay written on the iPad