Today is Autism Awareness Day. In the Catholic Church today, the reading was from Hosea, and while the words were written about the people of an ancient Israel, I applied them to our lives. He will heal us.. he will bind us.. he will restore us.
I don't really fall into a camp about autism. I listen to all sides, because I figure everyone has something to offer. I see traits genetically, and I see where environment could have factored it as well. I would love to see my children "cured", but I have accepted that it might never happen, and perhaps isn't meant to happen.
What I know for certain is that my children are perfect in the eyes of God, and I probably focus too much on how I can fix two children who seem to be content with themselves as they are.
So, as I beat myself up over thinking that, I was given some salve for the wounds. The Gospel today was a parable of two men, one who did everything right and was quite pleased with himself for his fasting and tithing. The other man knew he was a sinner, and begged for mercy. I mentally rearranged the story to be about the perfect parent and myself in the place of the two men.
I'm glad I was reminded of my flaws, and also glad I was reminded of God's amazing mercy.
