tornadocam : I'm so proud of you!  I have Asperger's Syndrome, so I relate to you a lot.  I was told by professionals that I would never drive or go to college, and I proved them wrong!  In fact, I'm near graduation!  I struggle with this one literature class, though.  There is some stuff in the class that I don't want to read, since it's filled with bad language and other stuff.  I am not doing very well in the class right now, and may have to drop it.  I hope that I'll make it through college somehow and get a job.

I was also ashamed of my disability for a very long time.  But I too, gained perspective and light by rededicating my life to Christ.  I filled my life with service and good thoughts, and was blessed for it.  But I sadly fell away for a while.  I'm now changing again and repenting of my sins.  I've hurt a lot of people, and I want to make sure they are happy.  But I know that they have the freedom to choose.  My parents and brother aren't very happy right now, and I try to cheer them up.  But they don't want cheered up, it seems, or I have not been reaching out as well as I should be.  I want my family to be happy, more than anything!  I know if I give them my all, I'll be happy too.

The greatest problem with the media's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Disorders is that they want to compare us to others, instead of comparing us to us.  We may be disabled, but our very disability enables us to do things that others will likely never accomplish in their lifetime.  Their is a scripture of my church that goes as follows:

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

This is Christ speaking, and it holds true for all of us.  If we cast our burdens upon the Lord and humble ourselves, we will find that our weaknesses have become strengths unto us.  I love this scripture because it makes me feel like I can be who I need to be, not what the world wants me to be.  "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" -Romans 3:23.  But every day I live His Word, I feel stronger.  Although I may never quite reach perfection, I believe that as a literal child of God, I can grow forever if I live the right way.  It's that hope that keeps me happy.