Different by Design: When Love, Patience, and Divine Timing Shape a Beautiful Story
Different by Design: When Love, Patience, and Divine Timing Shape a Beautiful Story
By Angel, Founder of AMC Rise and
Thrive
Hello beautiful soul 🤍
I’m so grateful you’re here today.
Whether you’re reading this first thing in the morning, late at night, or
somewhere in between the demands of life, I want you to know—you’re welcome
here exactly as you are.
This space has always been about honesty, grace, and growth.
It’s about showing up without masks, without perfection, and trusting that even
the unfinished moments hold meaning. Today’s message comes straight from real
life, unfolded in real time, with all its imperfections and holy moments woven
together. ✨
It is officially Christmas Eve, and I hope you are somewhere
safe, warm, and held—whether by family, quiet reflection, or simply the
presence of God. For some, this night is full of joy and laughter. For others,
it may feel tender, overwhelming, or bittersweet. Wherever you are emotionally,
spiritually, or physically—please know that you are not alone. 🤍
I want to begin with an honest apology to those of you who
lovingly wait for these posts to go live at midnight. That has always been my
intention. Truly. I know some of you build quiet routines around these
reflections, and I don’t take that lightly.
But today, life asked for my full presence in ways that
couldn’t be rushed, rescheduled, or explained away.
The truth is, I hadn’t wrapped a single one of my son’s
Christmas presents yet. Not one. So, my husband lovingly stepped in and took
him out to run errands and wander the store—giving me sacred time at home to
wrap gifts as quickly, intentionally, and lovingly as I could. I finished in
about an hour and a half, feeling both accomplished and slightly breathless. 🎁
Then reality gently reminded me that I’m human too. I needed
to eat. I needed to make dinner. And I absolutely needed to wash my hair—which,
let’s be honest, most women already know is not a quick task. It’s a process. A
commitment. A whole thing. 😌
And once the presents were finally under the tree, a new layer
of awareness settled in. Because now, my son could see them. And to him, it
felt like a free-for-all waiting to happen.
That’s when it hit me.
I’ve never really shared this part of my life here before.
My son is autistic. 🤍
When the Diagnosis Changes Everything—and Nothing
My son is one of the greatest blessings of my life. He is
healthy, incredibly intelligent, deeply loving, and profoundly caring. He is
also an empath—just like me—which means emotions don’t simply pass through him.
They arrive loudly, fully, and all at once. Everything he feels is amplified. 💫
When we received his diagnosis nearly ten years ago, it wasn’t
something I expected. He had met every developmental milestone up until the age
of two. Then, slowly and quietly, he stopped talking. At the time, I didn’t see
it as alarming. His needs were always met. I understood him intuitively. I
still do. No one knows my child the way I do.
It wasn’t until his three-year doctor’s visit that the
question was asked:
“How does he ask for what he wants?”
I answered honestly.
“He points.”
The doctor paused.
“And what does he say?”
And in that moment, my heart dropped.
He didn’t really say anything—except “no.”
That moment marked the beginning of testing, evaluations, and
long conversations that danced carefully around unspoken thoughts. No one said
the word at first, but I felt it hovering in the room. When autism was finally
mentioned, my initial response was denial. I had a cousin with autism, and my
son wasn’t like him.
What I didn’t understand then was that autism is a
spectrum—wide, layered, complex, and deeply individual.
There is no single manual.
No predictable timeline.
No one-size-fits-all solution.
And that truth alone can feel overwhelming.
Choosing Growth Over Fear, and Love Over Labels
Over the years, we committed to therapy, IEPs, meetings,
adjustments, and ongoing conversations—making sure my son received what he
needed not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and spiritually as
well. Through it all, I made one decision very early on:
I would never treat my son as less than capable. 💪
He cleans up after himself. He is required to communicate. He
is held accountable for his actions. Autism has never been an excuse in our
home—but it has always been a reason for compassion, understanding, and
thoughtful accommodations.
There are moments when he becomes overstimulated. When
emotions overflow and regulation becomes difficult. In those moments, I didn’t
try to “fix” him. Instead, I retrained my own brain—so that he could thrive. I
learned how to guide him toward calming, grounding, and self-awareness rather
than punishment or shame.
And slowly—beautifully—growth happened. 🌱
What experts once said wasn’t possible became reality. Today,
my son can verbally tell me what he wants—sometimes very clearly, sometimes
very loudly. He’s funny. He’s observant. He notices details others miss. People
sometimes think he isn’t paying attention, but he always is. Always listening.
Always processing. Often five steps ahead in ways that matter to him.
There are things other children do effortlessly that he
struggles with—not because he can’t, but because he has no interest. And when
he is motivated? There is no obstacle he cannot overcome.
Different Doesn’t Mean Less—It Means Divinely
Designed
Over time, more children in our family have been diagnosed on
the spectrum. In many ways, my son prepared us. He softened hearts. He opened
eyes. He taught our family how to slow down, adjust expectations, and create
space so no child feels left out or left behind. 🤍
Some children show physical traits that signal they’re on the
spectrum. My son does not. If you saw him, you wouldn’t know. You have to watch
his rhythms, his responses, his ways of navigating the world to understand that
he moves through life a little differently.
And that word—different—matters.
Different does not mean less.
I grew up surrounded by extraordinary individuals who taught
me this truth early. I had a cousin with cerebral palsy who couldn’t walk,
communicated through sign language, and was legally blind. Doctors said she
wouldn’t live past two years old. She lived to forty-two. And she was one of
the most special people I’ve ever known. 🌸
Having people like that in your life is a blessing beyond
measure.
God created us all uniquely. And while circumstances,
abilities, and challenges may differ, love is a language that always
transcends. It bridges gaps, dissolves fear, and reminds us of our shared
humanity.
Affirmations 🌿
Take a slow breath and let these settle into your heart:
• I honor the beauty of differences in myself and others.
• I trust God’s design, even when it looks different than expected.
• Love guides me, patience grounds me, and grace sustains me.
• I am equipped for the journey I’ve been given.
• What feels delayed is often divinely timed.
Bible Verse 📖
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
— Ephesians 2:10
Let this remind you: nothing about you—or your child—is
accidental.
🎵 Song of
the Day
“Beautiful Boy” – John Lennon 🎶
This song holds sacred space for me. My son is the most
precious gift I could have ever received. We pray together. We’ve traveled
across states in the car, sharing long conversations and quiet moments. I watch
him grow, and I feel both joy and grief—happy for who he’s becoming, tender
over how fast time moves.
I see his father in him. I see myself. I see grandparents and
even great-grandparents reflected in his expressions, his humor, his way of
being.
To witness how one child can carry so much legacy is humbling.
He keeps me on my toes, softens my heart, and stretches my faith daily.
And I wouldn’t change a thing. 🤍
Final Thoughts
Life doesn’t always unfold according to schedule.
Posts don’t always go up at midnight.
Hair doesn’t wash itself.
Children don’t follow scripts.
And blessings don’t always arrive wrapped the way we expect. 🎁
But love always shows up.
Growth always finds a way.
And God remains faithful.
Trust divine timing. We can’t rush what’s meant for us. We can
only remain open, receptive, and willing to receive what God has already
prepared.
May you feel seen, supported, and deeply cherished today. 🤍
With motherly love, faith, and gratitude,
Angel
Founder, AMC Rise and Thrive
If this message has resonated, I invite you to share it—and to
explore the archive. There may be another message there, quietly waiting for
you, right on time.
#AMCriseandthrive #DifferentNotLess #FaithAndFamily
#DivineDesign #GraceInEverySeason #photolab
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