The Sound of Love -- From Clay's Voice to The Ears of a Child

Every once in a while I read something so heart warming that I want to share it with everyone. Just recently on The Clayboard I read just that, a story written by Cincy15 about her grandson who is autistic and the affect that Clay's music had on him. It always amazes me at how Clay's voice so obviously affects people, and it is especially obvious when it is babies and young children. They stop crying and/or sit still, and listen with every fiber of their being. There's something in that voice, something extra that God has given Clay, something that makes a person feel calm, soothed, and loved.

Here is Cincy15's story, and I think you will agree that it is very heartwarming indeed:

Some of you may know that I have a grandson who is autistic. I live in Ohio and he lives with my son and daughter-in-law in Minot, ND where his dad is stationed in the US Air Force. My daughter-in-law has become aware of Clay’s music directly because of his work and TBAF. She is not a Claymate or even a major fan like most of us here, but she does like his music and supports him because she supports “the man.” Like many, she does love Christmas music and couldn’t wait to get the All is Well mini-cd. She got it today and emailed me her and her son’s reactions to it.

As is the norm with her days, she will often do her own housework and class work while my grandson plays quietly nearby. His autism is characterized basically by difficulties with in the language development areas. Although he is now (thanks to speech therapy and an inclusionary pre-school environment) saying a few words, the better part of his life has been non-verbal when it comes to communication. When he talks, it is seldom more than two or three words strung together.

She put All is Well in the cd player while she was cleaning the kitchen. Mark was coloring in the dining room. When she stopped to take a look at him, the song All is Well was playing. What she described to me has had me reduced to tears of joy.

Mark had stopped in mid-Crayola and was listening intently to Clay’s voice during the song All is Well. She described the look on his face as almost angelic. He was smiling softly, yet a single tear was falling down his cheek. He noticed her looking at him and raised his head to her and said his favorite word. “Love.” She knelt to him and the two of them “communicated” in ways mothers and sons have been communicating since the beginning of time. With all the daily ups and downs of raising a child with autism, at that moment, she felt a calming sense of peace. A feeling that, at least for that moment in time, All most certainly was Well.

And that is what I think this song is all about. At least that is how the words will mean in our family. We know Mark will face many challenges in his life; all of our children will. Many of his challenges will actually be less than some of those faced by children who are not suffering from the learning challenges of autism. Whatever those challenge children and their parents may face, as long as there is “love”, the kind of love expressed and felt through Clay’s rendition of All is Well, there is much hope and cause for celebration.

So thank you, Clay, for this beautiful song. It proves again that although Mark cannot “talk”, he most certainly can hear. Although his mother may not “hear” him, she can in a meaningful way “listen.” So since Mark cannot traditionally use his voice, I will speak for him to bless you for these lyrics that say so much:

All is well all is well
Angels and men rejoice
For tonight darkness fell
Into the dawn of love's light
Sing Alleluia
All is well all is well

Thank you, Clay, for sharing your beautiful voice with us...for sharing the joy, love, and peace it brings to us all.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible