THE PRODIGAL THAT TURNED HOMEWARD
A FIVE PART SERIES
Dedicated to Shane, our only son of 4 kids, who has been sober from drugs and other things for 10 years now 2020
Prayer is the Greatest Gift you can give your Child: Your Child belongs to God not you!
“Unless the Lord Builds the house those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
PSALM 127:1-5
When my husband and I travel, I often run into parents, especially moms, whose children aren’t walking with the Lord. Their hearts are broken and I understand their pain.
We watched nine or more of our son’s friends die many drug related deaths. During our son, Shane’s, five year addiction with drugs, we wondered if his turn would come. Please read “One Mother’s Journey of RAISING a Prodigal” by Sterling O’Neill, a 5 part series as the story unfolds. Part 1: Shane’s Early Years ; Part 2: Years of Pain ; Part 3: High School Years; Part 4: Coming to End of the Line; and Part 5: Changed Heart.
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
(Part Three)
“My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:15
To hide the pain, Shane, our 3rd child and only boy, was experiencing, he turned to what he thought the world had to offer. He thought it might bring some kind of happiness back into his life or numb the pain he was feeling. It looked inviting. It looked good! He delighted in it. Satan made the world look good to Shane.
Since Shane’s heart and desires were turned in that direction, it was natural for him to want to experiment with what the world had to offer. He turned to drinking, drugs, smoking, sex, and whatever the world handed out. Over the next five and a half year span, whatever the world had, Shane tried. He began to make one bad decision after another. He soon realized the path he was going down was leading to destruction. He also thought he had the ability to turn back anytime he wanted. Another lie he was listening to from Satan.
My friend kept telling me about “Moms in Touch” at that time, now called “Moms in Prayer.” I finally listened and found and joined a group not far from my home and school of my kids. As we met and prayed weekly, I would see one prayer after another answered in my son’s life. I figured if I could see even the smallest things in Shane’s life being answered, then God still had his hand on Shane and he would eventually come back to God. This is not always true or a guarantee but I wanted to believe it. I was in search of hope.
Another friend of mine told me “God will complete what he had started.” (Philippians 1:6) “It is God working in Shane’s life not the decisions he makes or doesn’t make that I should be looking at. God loves Shane and loves you. Look to Him.” (more…)