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A
Mother's Heart
Janet moves
through each full day with determination and purpose. Her almost full-time
job keeps her focused and busy. Her ministry in the church nursery
regularly pulls her from her almost empty-nest home. She thrives on
serving others and many find themselves blessed by the smiling, caring
woman who is quick to volunteer to take a meal to a family in need
or invite a church visitor for Sunday lunch. She welcomes her two
older children home from college with enthusiasm, and rejoices with
their successes and love for the Lord. Together, Janet and her devoted
husband serve God with true Christian love and passion.
To look at her you would never guess that Janet is plagued with an
angst that grips her soul like a vice. Her youngest daughter’s addiction
to alcohol clouds her every moment and shadows her every joy. This
twenty-two-year-old has driven Janet and her husband to their knees
in desperation countless times over the past several years. Late night
calls from the police, accidents, acts of rage, jail sentences, demolished
vehicles, emergency hospital visits, and one crisis after another
have randomly punctuated their lives. Time and again their hopes have
been raised and then dashed.
Janet finds comfort in supportive friends that pray with her and for
her family. Her faith in God has grown dramatically. As she reaches
out to the Lord, He has been faithful to hold her through the pain.
But the pain remains; and so does her determination to pray for her
daughter to be released from her bondage. Her prayers are relentless.
God has graciously provided another arena of support for Janet. Two
women in Janet’s church began a small support group for mothers of
children who battle with addictions, emotional disturbances, or severely
destructive lifestyle choices. The leader started the group because
she found herself at a loss for help when her son was diagnosed as
bi-polar (an emotional disorder). Each mother comes with a broken
heart and dashed dreams. The group is entitled “A Mother’s Heart.”
The eight women meet one evening a week for two hours. The women can
freely share their shattered hopes and dreams. All are prayed for,
encouraged, and supported in love. The women find themselves battling
depression and isolation, and these issues are addressed in the group.
In addition, psychiatrists and psychologists have been scheduled to
speak to the group to provide access to professional resources. Of
course, confidentiality is respected among the group members.
One mother had left the church because of the shame and judgment she
felt for her child’s actions. She returned to join the group. As each
woman shares her family crisis, they all gain new perspective on their
own problems. These women wrestle with guilt and shame over their
children’s actions. Although they are helpless to “fix” their children’s
problems, they sometimes feel judged by others in the church. One
woman expressed her appreciation for the support group with the comment,
“When I come here, I feel normal.”
by Cyndie Hamley |
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