You have found cocaine in your son’s drawers as you put his clothes away. You’re devastated. You caught your child in the act of self-harming after promises of quitting. You are saddened. Your teen has “come out” as bi-sexual and you wonder where you went wrong. You’re guilt-ridden after finding out your daughter was taken from school to the hospital due to a suicidal attempt.
What on earth do you do? Continue reading
I used to hate Mother’s Day. Did you hear that? “Used” to! I would see all of the mother’s surrounded by their smiling and laughing children of all ages giving honor to their mom. These children would present signs, crafts, give gifts, and bestow beautiful words of love and respect onto their mother.
Me? Nada! I dreaded this once a year holiday. Why? Because there were crises left and right, ongoing drama, heartless thanks, and a plethora of other problems toppled on each other. Instead of feeling I just came out of a word entrenched spa enjoying the accolades of praise for being the best mom, I was instead left in tears, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain for being a mom to a teen with serious issues.
I envied other moms. I was jealous of how they spent time with their families enveloped by so much love it would burst like the Fourth of July fireworks. Unlike that moment, I stayed in bed with the covers over my head wishing I could start life over. Did I say I hated Mother’s Day? Continue reading
This past week we received a wonderful blessing. The birth of our grandson. With his birth, came a healing for our daughter in ways that she had not felt before. A healing of restoration, a new life, of saying goodbye to the past.
Today, we celebrate another beautiful blessing. The beginning birth of Christ, who walked on earth as man, and sent to death for us and our child’s iniquities. However, the story does not finish there. He also rose again in full glory, giving freedom from sin, healing for broken hearts, and an eternal home that gives peace, joy, and a future.
Without Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we would have no hope for our children. Today, I am extra thankful for the cross and what Christ did not just for me, but for my children too.
May you be reminded of God’s love for you this Easter!
Photo by Hugues de BUYER-MIMEURE on Unsplash
In the past several months I have had to purge through life’s memories, pack tons of treasure troves, and prepare for a life change – moving from a large home to a small apartment. Never had I realized the years of accumulation we had collected. For my husband, it was sixty years worth passed down from the generations before him. For me, collectibles and books were my passion through time.
This season of change was not only overwhelming but exhausting in every way possible. As parents of a struggling young adult now, challenges are still very fresh and new. Many of us see our kids grow up with crises and believe they will outgrow those moments of brokenness as they age. That is not always the case.
I think of the parents whose children are still involved or addicted to drugs and alcohol. Then there are the parents who have older teens and young adults chained by their eating disorders or sexual identity and porn issues. What about the parents who find themselves back at square one with their child who has a mental illness or struggle with suicidal tendencies? Continue reading
We love our children from the moment they are put into our arms. We raise them, teach them, encourage them, correct them, and give them tons of love and hugs.
Then one day, they hurt us by something they said or did. First time offense, we show forgiveness. Second offense, we begin to wonder if they understood their actions from their first transgression. By the third time, we are awakened to the fact that they DO know what they are doing and don’t care.
As parents of teens and young adults in crisis, we have many experiences of rejection, hurtful words thrown at us, property destroyed or stolen, total disrespect, physical or emotional abuse, and more. Then…something comes over us. We become resentful, disgruntled, exasperated, angry, and less loving. Continue reading
