More than a Mom

When Shawn and Avery arrived home from the grocery store the other night, Avery said he had something to tell me during dinner.

After we sat down to eat and everyone was squared away, Avery filled me in about a mom he saw in the self-checkout line.

She had five small children (Shawn confirmed they were all younger than Avery) she was trying to corral and keep happy while attempting to just purchase her groceries (remember those days, mamas?).

"Mom, you would've had two of those kids on your hips and played with the other three as you scanned her groceries, dried her tears, made her laugh, and given her a mom pin, all while praying with her."

I made an excuse to leave the table for a moment--then had a moment.

With that, Avery saw ME.  Not Mom, not Teacher, Short Order Chef, Chauffeur, not Chore Minder--he just saw ME.  Avery saw me as a human being.

Avery acknowledged my heart, my desires to follow God's path set before me and my ministry.  Avery was able to appreciate I am more than just his mom.

The significance of this goes deeper than what I'm telling you.

As any mom of a child with autism will tell you, it's often difficult for our kiddos to relate to others.  It can be baffling for them to understand the feelings and emotions of other people, considering they are often perplexed by their own.  Most things are black and white, and deeper meanings can be elusive.

My boy sees me.