Autism & Alleluiahs, by
Kathleen Deyer Bolduc. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2010. 149 pp. $14.00.
ISBN 978-0-8170-1568-8.
Reviewed by John E. Shaffett
This is the author's version of a work that was submitted/accepted for publication in the following source:
The Christian Librarian, 55 (1) 2012 : 41-42.
Living with a disabled child or adult is difficult
and exhausting. Can the Christian faith help someone caring for a disabled
child? What can the church do to help support families caring for people with
disabilities? Kathleen Bolduc in Autism
and Alleuiahs seeks to answer some of these questions. Bolduc is a
nationally recognized author and speaker on working with the disabled. She is
also the mother of an adult son with autism.
Autism
& Alleluiahs is not a
biography or a book explaining everything you need to know about autism.
It is a book about one family and their experience in raising a son, Joel, who
has “autism, intellectual disabilities, and an anxiety disorder” (xiii). It is
also a book about how the Christian Faith, friends, family, case workers, and
the church have helped the family experience strength during their difficult
times and to grow stronger. Bolduc says that Joel has been her greatest
teacher. One of the important lessons he has taught his mother is to slow down
and enjoy the moment. Another lesson is that the disabled are a gift from God.
This message was shared with Bolduc from a Lakota Sioux. He told Bolduc that
his people considered each disabled child as God’s gift to teach his people
compassion.
Autism
& Alleluiahs is
organized into thirty-nine small chapters. Each chapter includes a scripture
verse, a personal story, and a prayer. The story has two parts to it: a
troubling situation and how God provided his grace to help with the situation.
For example, Bulduc was trying to get Joel ready for school one morning and the
toilet would not flush. She told him she would take care of it. He refused to
leave it and get ready for school. Joel eventually caused the toilet to
overflow and poop was on the floor. She
asked a friend, “Where in the world is the alleluiah in a poopy morning” (124)?
Her friend responded, “You know, Cathy, I seem to remember that quite a few of
your chapters begin with a groan before you get to the alleluiah. The alleluiah is
there. You just haven’t found it yet” (124). The great strength of this book is that Bolduc
does not sugarcoat the difficulties. The encouraging part is how God has used
all these difficulties to make the whole family grow.
Autism
& Alleluiahs is a well-written book with fluent prose
that teaches us how God can use trials to help us to grow to maturity. It also
shows that Christians have an important role to play in supporting families
with disabled family members. This book is highly recommended.
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