My Brother Tim

He looked like any other normal baby boy but there were times when Mom worried that something was drastically wrong. Her pregnancy had been normal with no complications but the labor and delivery were less than perfect. An induced labor, an inability to breathe, and a mid-forceps birth all contributed to her fear.

At first she thought he was deaf as he didn't startle like other babies, but later on she was sure he could hear. There were other things too that I don't recall. Most people tried to assure her that everything was fine, but deep inside she knew they were wrong.

My brother Tim is severely autistic. When he was a little boy he lived at home, but as he got older he became more and more difficult to control. He would run in front of traffic, go inside the neighbors houses uninvited, or just plain disappear. Today we hear of autism often and it is applied to a wide variety of idiosyncrasies. My brother was one of those rare children who spoke little, didn't learn his boundaries, and basically retreated into a world of his own. Finally the decision was made to place him in an institution where he would be safe, enabling Mom and Dad to care for their four other children.

When my sisters and I were little girls, we would often go along with Mom and Dad to visit Tim. This was an every other Sunday routine, with a ride through the country side and a stop along the way, either to pick up some snacks from a convenience store or to stop at a fast food restaurant for a burger and fries. Tim would gobble his food down as fast as he could, and then watch us as we ate ours. Inevitably one of us would break down and give him the remainder of a milkshake. I can still see the smile on his face as he finished it off.

Today Mom and Dad still faithfully visit Tim and take him out for a ride. It has been a painful road for them to walk these past 48 years as they have watched their son struggle through life. I have seen Mom shed tears and Dad shrug his shoulders as they continue on in their love and commitment. My mom and dad are a tremendous example of faithfulness, never giving up, always loving, and looking forward to that day when Jesus will once again make their son whole.