Significant events are coming up in the life of my son, Daniel. He is taking his driver’s license test tomorrow and then on Monday, he starts two weeks of comedy camp at our local theater. I am nervous and excited about both.

He, however, told me in the car today that, for some reason, he doesn’t have any particular emotion about either. His Aspie-driven trust in facts has given him confidence and peace in these circumstances. He knows these “facts” – that he is a good driver and that he is funny. Thus, those two events that make mom nervous and excited, are just matter of fact happenings to him. I think that is a pretty good “side effect” of having Aspergers.

I, however, don’t have Aspergers and I think about all the things and people that can affect the outcome of both events. I worry that the driver’s license tester will not appreciate Daniel’s matter of fact statements or his quirky sense of humor. I worry that Daniel will get rattled and not pass the driving test. I worry that the other students in comedy camp will exclude him or be unkind. I worry that the teacher of the camp will not understand or appreciate Daniel.

Then, on the other side, I hope that he will pass his driving test with flying colors. I hope that the comedy camp will reveal a niche, a gift, a place that Daniel’s quirkiness and sense of humor will shine. I know that he is an amazing kid and funny and enjoyable and I hope that others will see it too.

These hopes take me back to some facts that I, the non-Aspie mom of an amazing Aspie teen, need to remember – I know that God made Daniel different by design. I know that God made him this way on purpose (Psalm 139). I know that God has plans for Daniel for a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). So, reciting these “facts” has reassured me that all will be well in one way or the other and I don’t have a reason to worry or fear these big events. Maybe we could all use a little “Aspie-driven trust in facts”, specifically, the facts in God’s Word and a trust in the author of those facts. What God says, He will do. Amen!

~ Brooke