Just Because

He sat there, smiling, as the tears ran in rivers down his freckled cheeks. Finally grasping the meaning behind the symbolism in his story book.

We bought it for him when he was about three or four. Love is not a strong enough word. We would read it over and over again until he could quote it word for word even though he could not yet read for himself.

Several years have passed. He has moved on to other stories now.

We have also learned more about him; that he takes everything literally. That he needs help sometimes with comprehension. All part of the Asperger's he was finally diagnosed with last year.

He gets down on himself. Really down. He does not require anyone’s help to do that. So when other kids at school notice him, notice his quirks, and comment - it’s not good. Maybe they do not even realise what they said. Or that he would take it that way. Maybe they were not even being nasty.

Determined not to let him spiral any further down in this latest ‘I’m no good’ session, I stepped in. Or rather God did – and He let me help. It was Mummy and her boy time.

Gathering Max Lucado’s ‘You Are Special’ and leading him by the hand to a quiet chair at the far end of the house, we read the story together. And then we did what I only wish had occurred to me much, much sooner; years sooner.

I explained what it all meant; who the characters represented. What their actions symbolised. He had never understood any of this. I told him over and over again, “You are special because God made you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or says. He doesn't make mistakes. You are special just because.”

He cried. I cried. It was sacred…

Dear friend, I share this with you because I want to be sure that you grasp this all important truth too. Let God take your sweet face (yes, that’s yours) in his gentle hands and listen to Him say, “You are special just because I made you. You are loved. You are enough. That is all.”

NB: I am in no way being compensated for sharing about Mr Lucado’s book. I simply believe it contains truth that every heart needs to know.