Encouragement
Parents are a true gift from God and they should be treated as so.
I was not the best teenager. I suffered from anxiety and depression from as young as I can remember. I had my first taste of alcohol when I was in the 6th grade and I loved it. It made me feel bold, and out going. I drank off and on through the next five years.
Between the 6th and 8th grade, I could sneak wine or whiskey from my parents cupboard. When I got into High School, I would ask people outside the liquor store in our town. Getting the alcohol wasn’t the problem, The big problem was how the alcohol changed my personality. I went from being a shy, sweet girl, to a girl with a bad attitude. Because of my attitude change, things changed in my home. I had been very close to my parents, but drinking brought out all of my bad feelings and I treated my parents horribly. There was one time, in those teen years, that I will never forget.
My Dad was the most gentle, loving man that I have ever known and my actions and attitude never changed how he felt for me.
I was in the 9th grade. I was drinking almost every day, self medicating. My parents didn’t know that I was drinking, they just knew that I wasn’t acting like my old self. This caused great friction between my mom, dad and me. I started caring more for alcohol then for my parents. And then to top it all off, I ran away from home. I spent three days on the road. I made it to the beach and that’s where I got caught. I got taken first to the police department, and then home. I really didn’t understand how much I was hurting my family, and at that time I didn’t care.
While I was away, my dad, in an effort to find me, went to a hang out of mine. He talked to my friends for the first time. And after coming home from my adventure, I found out just how much my dad loved me.
I was in my bedroom, when my dad came in and closed the door. He had a serious look on his face. He said, “How could you?” I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Then he explained that some of my friends had told him that I said I was adopted. It was just a joke to me. I thought it was funny, telling some made up story about not having a family. What could it hurt. Apparently, it hurt my father, deeply. He started to cry. I had never seen him cry before. Even in the state my heart was in from drinking, I was touched. I never meant to hurt that man.
I would like to tell you that I changed at that moment, but I didn’t. I continued to drink for two more years. But the Bible tells us to, “Train a child in the way he should go and he will not depart.” Proverbs 22:6. I did come back to the Faith and I did change.
Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your Father and Mother- which is the first commandment with a promise- that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the Earth.”
Three years ago, my Dad became bed ridden. He had so many health problems. I had the opportunity to take care of him for his last six months of life. I thank God for giving me that time with him. I was able to show my dad just how much I loved him, He was a true gift from God.
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