Support network

I am pleased to announce that Lori and I are now going to share in writing on this blog about the kids. We discussed that one of the most important things we can write about is not only the cute things that the kids do, but document our on going efforts to raise Cale, our son with Asperger's Syndrome, and the things we are learning.

On that note, I want to tell you about the conversation I had with Cale when I was putting him to bed last night. Cale asked me, "Who is the God of evil?" I answered him that there is no god of evil. We then went on to have a discussion of Satan, Hell, and how Jesus will come back to throw all into the lake of fire. Cale is very intelligent, and amazingly can keep up very well when we start talking about spiritual matters. He needs to see it written in the Bible but once he sees it he will believe it. This is at the heart of what I need everyone in Cale's support network to understand.

Cale's perception of spiritual and realistic matters is based on what he sees, reads, and hears from others. When he watches a movie, even a cartoon, he starts to believe that it is real. He asks questions about monsters, dragons, and other make-believe animals as if they are real. Cale sees magic as portrayed on television and believes that it is real. We have to dissuade him of the reality of television on a daily basis.

What does this have to do with you? Imagine if Cale were to get the idea that there are other gods in the world, and no one in his family dissuades him from this belief. Cale will hold on to that belief until his death or until someone shows him the evidence that there is no other gods. As a child that can be rather simple. As Cale grows older this will become more and more difficult. So, as a support network please be conscious of what you let him see and hear from you. Lori and I are planning on curtailing any further "magic" things in our house such as Harry Potter. We also want everyone to understand that if you hear Cale espouse something you think un-Biblical correct him. It may sound like harmless child's fantasy, but you must remember that Cale thinks on slightly different level. Additionally, don't tell him things you yourself don't believe as a spiritual matter.

I am not trying to put the burden on anyone singly but as Cale's support we need to be on the same page so please consider what you are doing in his presence.

*originally posted by Eric Wilson on String of Pearls 10/26/09