Bringing Peace to His Storm

Some nights look like this.

Shia is doing so well overall, and I never want stories like this to take away from that.

He really is.

We’ve seen so much growth, and I’m deeply grateful.

But there are still nights when autism feels incredibly overwhelming for his body and his nervous system.

When that internal storm rises…

Everything else stops.

Because when my boy needs me…

Nothing else matters.

In those moments, my job is simple:

Bring peace to his storm.

Sometimes that means getting in the tub with him.

Sometimes it’s massage.

Sometimes it’s cold stimulation, deep pressure, water, or other sensory input.

Sometimes it’s simply staying close.

Staying calm.

Meeting him where he is.

Slowly introducing the things that might help his body regulate.

But honestly…

The greatest thing I can offer him isn’t another strategy.

It’s my peace.

My calm.

My presence.

A nervous system that isn’t adding to what his body is already carrying.

And that requires all of me.

Not half of me while I answer messages.

Not part of me while I’m thinking about work.

Not one eye on him and one eye on everything else.

All of me.

Sometimes it’s one difficult hour.

Sometimes it’s one difficult day.

Sometimes it’s weeks.

Sometimes it feels like an entire season where everything else quietly waits.

The writing waits.

The plans wait.

Work waits.

Because helping my son feel safe…

Helping him find peace in his own body…

Matters more.

I don’t share this because I’m looking for sympathy.

I share it because this is part of our life.

This is part of loving Shia.

It’s beautiful.

It’s hard.

It’s unpredictable.

And sometimes it asks for every ounce of me.

I’m learning that presence isn’t just something I offer my son.

It’s something God has been teaching me all along.

One quiet moment…

One deep breath…

One storm at a time.

~~~~~~~

Part of the Breadcrumbs collection by Abby Lewis—true stories that leave room for God to speak.