Living a Miracle

By Robert Callaway

How Can People be Truly Happy?

Do you know the real reason why we are living on this earth? Do you know why we have so many trials and hardships in life? Are you wondering how to live a truly happy life and how we can have happier families?

Answers to these and other very important questions about life are inc

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atmosphere Press
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9798891320376

Book preview

LIVING A

MIRACLE

Robert Callaway

atmosphere press

© 2022 Robert Callaway

All rights reserved.

Published by Atmosphere Press

Cover design by Kevin Stone

No part of this book may be reproduced without permission from the author, except in brief quotations and in reviews.

atmospherepress.com

Note: This book is a prequel to the book Through the Eyes of Asperger’s: A Latter-day Saint Perspective by Robert Callaway. This prequel illustrates some of the many trials and difficult challenges which the Wilkinson family members all experienced, and which many other families experience during their lives here on earth. This book includes emotional episodes, along with some drama, as it explains the purpose of these trials. It contains very inspiring and encouraging information for all of us, including those of us with disabilities or disorders, showing us how to effectively deal with our challenges and hardships in life, and how to be truly happy. It shows all of us a higher perspective of our lives.

This story contained herein is adapted from actual real-life family experiences, with some fictionalized material included, along with a few elements from Through the Eyes of Asperger’s: A Latter-day Saint Perspective. Names have been changed in this account. Any similarity of names in this account to actual people and families is purely coincidental.

divider

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One: The Lord’s Plan

Chapter Two: The Loss

Chapter Three: Along Comes Trisha

Chapter Four: The Diagnosis

Chapter Five: The Accident

Chapter Six: Randy’s Trials

Chapter Seven: Ethan’s Challenges

Chapter Eight: Family Togetherness

Chapter Nine: ASD Difficulties

Chapter Ten: The Refusal

Chapter Eleven: The Birthday

Chapter Twelve: More Trials

Chapter Thirteen: The Bombshell

Chapter Fourteen: Trials and Blessings

Chapter Fifteen: Ethan’s Accomplishments

Chapter Sixteen: Living a Miracle

Afterword

This book is dedicated to all those who are

struggling in their lives.

It comes from one who understands how to live through trials and be truly happy.

May this book be an inspiration and a treasure

to all of you!

INTRODUCTION

divider

A

LONG with my book, Through the Eyes of Asperger’s: A Latter-day Saint Perspective, I, Robert Callaway, wrote this book about the trials and challenges we face, along with the joyful times we all experience. Every one of us has good days and bad days. I have as well, being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are many days when we may feel quite stressed. Through the gospel teachings and guidance we have received through Church instruction and through other means, many of us know how our Savior can help us as we continue to work on doing our best. We know that we are given great difficulties, challenges, trials, and tribulations in our lives, and we may also know that these situations give us experience. People with many types of disabilities, along with those people who have other disorders, also experience even more challenges, difficulties, and trials throughout their lives. More often, stress becomes overwhelming. But what is the purpose of this? Why do we keep having these problems and difficulties, one after another? Why are they increasing now? Why are many challenges and hardships lifelong, causing a large number of us to feel that all is lost? How can we really be happy? We may know that we have to experience these trials to help us grow and positively progress, so that we can have better lives. Some of us may also know that these experiences are necessary to help us learn to choose what is right and to help us draw ourselves closer to our God who loves us; but many times it seems to be too much. More of us end up breaking down and crying way too often, with much sadness hidden deep inside.

We might think, We need more miracles in our lives. Our Savior will give us miracles when it is part of His divine plan for us, when we show great faith, when we believe and put forth the effort in order to receive the miracles the Lord has for us. But then we think, Our difficulties, troubles, and challenges seem to occur much more often than any miracles we might receive. We do what is right and many times, needed blessings don’t come. What’s going on? When we are placed in difficult and trying situations after we try to do what’s right, we may wonder, What did I do wrong? or Why am I being punished? Life is hard enough already. Why do I have to live through such difficulty?

Our Savior wants us to be happy in our lives, and at times He has shown us tender mercies, and has given us blessings to help us feel better and to help us remember Him more often. However, many of us are stressed in our lives much more than we desire. Anxiety and depression never seem to end. World conditions continue to worsen, along with the cost of living, which also greatly affects each of us personally.

There is another way to look at this seemingly hopeless situation in our daily lives. Yes, we know about being obedient and following our Savior, who will definitely help us, but there is something more, something extremely important that I have learned which all of us can do, so we are able to be much happier during our lives. During our times of deep despair, I’ll show each of you how the night will turn into day. Be assured that the sun will come out again. I’m excited to share this inspiring information with all of you.

Let’s start on a wonderful journey now, as we follow the life story of the Wilkinson family from my previous book, beginning with Ethan’s early years which includes his diagnosis of Autism in the early 1990s, and through their story, discover some real solutions which will prove very helpful during our lives here on earth. Before joining the Wilkinson family, we will begin our journey with a presentation of some insightful information concerning our Savior’s plan for each one of us.

The

Journey

CHAPTER ONE

The Lord’s Plan

divider

W

HEN struggles and trials come we may sometimes ask, Did I really sign up for this? Was this really the plan? It is important for us to remember that we are exactly where we wanted to be! In the pre-existence we shouted for joy to have THIS experience! We were not just shouting for joy for the miracles that we would receive and experience during this earth life, but also for the times when we would not receive our miracle – the hard times. In the Great Council in Heaven in our premortal existence, all the sons and daughters of God shouted for joy to have a physical body for the first time, subject to pain and trials. Now we are here, with the opportunity to experience a fulness of joy, and also to experience great trials and challenges. Do we doubt the Lord’s words, Men are, that they might have joy?

It has been said that when we think of the Lord’s eternal plan for us, do we really want no difficulty, no struggle, and no adversity? For the plan is to prove us, to see if we will do all things whatsoever the Lord our God shall command us. Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I, the Lord God am with you, and will stand by you. They, who have endured the crosses of the world, shall inherit the kingdom of God, and their joy shall be full forever.

So what do we do when the miracles don’t come? When life is full of heartache and disappointments? When we feel that God has let us down and left us alone? When we see that our situation is not going to get any better? What do we do? We TRUST!!! We trust that Heavenly Father and our Savior know more about our lives, our heartaches, our desires, and our pains and suffering than we do. Our Lord knows what is best for us. He knows! So we trust Him! We turn it over to Him! We let Him work His own miracles in our lives and we follow His will, whatever that is!

Our Savior has His unique, perfect plan for each one of us, individually, during our lives here on earth. It is in His plan when each of us is born. He knows how long each of us will live on this earth. He knows what is best for every one of us to experience, in order to grow and positively progress in our lifetimes, to have more faith and trust, to understand our Lord better, and to develop more Christlike love in each of our lives. He won’t give us a trial that is not for our good. Our Savior knows what challenges are personally the best for every one of us, and has tailored them for each of us in order to fulfill His plan for our individual growth and progression in the best possible, most efficient and effective manner. He has lovingly done this for us. He knows our lives in great detail. He is very aware of our suffering. When Christ performed His atoning sacrifice for each one of us individually, He tremendously felt all of our individual experiences and emotions in detail! As we become closer to Him by striving to follow Him more in our lives, He will assist us through our trials, making them easier to bear, and we will feel His tremendous love for us. As we increase our faith in Him during our struggles, we will experience great, positive growth in our lives. Our Savior definitely wants us to succeed!

As in my book, Through the Eyes of Asperger’s: A Latter-day Saint Perspective, this prequel will show the blessings and improvement in our lives which will come through increasing our faith in the Lord during our difficult times, through enduring our challenges in life with His help, and by resisting the influence and temptations of the adversary. I, Robert Callaway, will illustrate how all this is accomplished here in this book, through the life experiences of the Wilkinson family: Randy, Sarah, Ethan, Alexis, and Trisha, all of whom I introduced in my previous book. Every one of you will be able to relate to the trials and difficulties they experienced, along with the joyful times they had. Later, you will see how the Lord’s plan for them became more apparent. You will also see how the Lord is very mindful of each of them as He is with all of us, as well as how their journey can be truly inspiring for us when we put the Lord more into our daily living. You will notice many tidbits of wisdom throughout their story to guide us in our journeys. You will see how we are all Miracles in the Lord’s eyes, and how much our God loves each one of us and wants us to be successful in our important, necessary sojourns here on earth.

Let’s begin our inspiring journey now by joining the Wilkinson family. We will begin at the point in their lives right after Alexis was born, when Ethan is three years old.

CHAPTER TWO

The Loss

divider

"W

OW! exclaims Alice, again. Sarah, you have such a beautiful baby girl now! She is simply wonderful."

Sarah gratefully responds, Thank you, Alice. You’ve been such a great help to me during this time. It’s so good that you came here to see me. You too, Dad and Mom.

Carol exclaims, It’s so wonderful you now have a beautiful daughter, and sister for Ethan! This is such a miracle!

Thanks, Mom! Sarah responds. We are having such a wonderful time together, but I’m feeling very tired. I feel like I need to sleep some more now. We can visit again later, if that’s okay?

That will be fine. Carol continues, Your Dad and I will come see you here tomorrow morning. Maybe Alice can come tomorrow as well.

Yes, I think I can come later tomorrow, Alice says in response.

Just then, the nurse comes in and suggests that Sarah take some time to rest while she takes her newborn. She suggests the visitors leave her hospital room, which they do. Sarah’s parents, David and Carol Braithwaite, along with Alice Middleton, Carol’s best friend for many years, had come to visit Sarah right after the birth of her second child, Alexis. They consider Alice as one of the family. Alice and Carol had both received graduate degrees in education, and have been therapists and family counselors for a long time. However, Carol had retired a few years ago and has recently been feeling less energetic.

Sarah’s husband, Randy, was staying home with Ethan while he was napping, and is planning to visit Sarah again the next morning at the hospital before going to work. Randy and Sarah are very concerned about Ethan, as he is still not talking at the age of three and a half years. He isn’t saying any words at all. Randy thinks that something is terribly wrong with Ethan, which agitates him at work and at home. Sarah’s parents are aware of all this and do their best to comfort Sarah and reassure Randy.

The next morning, Randy goes to see Sarah while David and Carol stay with Ethan at home. Upon arriving, Randy asks with great concern, Honey, how are you feeling?

I’m feeling okay. I was able to sleep better last night, so I feel much more rested this morning. How are you doing this morning?

Oh, I still feel depressed, Randy mutters as he looks down momentarily.

What’s wrong, dear? Sarah asks inquisitively. You’ll be able to see our new daughter, Alexis, soon. The nurse will be bringing her to us in a few minutes. She looks excited.

I just hope that Alexis won’t have the same problem that Ethan has, not being able to talk at all. It seems that things keep going wrong. What are we going to do about Ethan?

Oh, there’s no need to worry. I’m sure Ethan will be talking before too long.

I sure hope so, Randy says with a bit of hope in his voice.

Sarah then responds with these encouraging words: Randy, as we think more positively, we will see greater blessings and happiness in our lives.

Just then, the nurse brings baby Alexis in for them to see, and hands her to Sarah. Oh, Randy, she is such a miracle in our lives. Isn’t she so precious?

Randy then becomes a bit emotional. She is very beautiful, he comments as Sarah hands her to Randy to hold for a moment. It will be exciting to have a new baby in the house.

Yes, it will, responds Sarah.

Randy emotionally looks at his new daughter as he touches her tiny cheek.

A couple of days later, Sarah is able to be at home. On that bright and sunny, late summer morning, her father, David, comes to help with taking care of Alexis and Ethan so that Sarah can sleep some more. Randy is at work, and Sarah had been up much of the night, taking care of the baby’s needs. She is very sleepy.

Isn’t Mom coming today? asks Sarah, seeing that her father came alone.

She isn’t feeling well today, so she stayed home to rest, David responds with a sense of concern in his voice. I’m actually quite worried about her. She has been feeling weaker and sleeping more often lately. I’m not sure what’s happening with her.

On hearing this, Sarah sounds very concerned and asks, Has she been seen by her doctor recently?

"No, but I think I will schedule an appointment for her to be seen as soon as possible. I hope