Where was God, when my Son Died of an Overdose?

My son, was alone when he died.

This fact haunts me.

His friend, “asleep” in the next room, unaware, did not wake up in time help my son. There was no one else around, just the two of them.

With angry, mournful cries, my question stands:

Where was God, when my son died of an overdose?

It had been a self-medicating night of weed, alcohol, and cocaine. Pizza, laughs and companionship, leading to a late night taste of heroin. One high falling to a lull, after the next high falling to a lull, and on it went.

Why heroin?

It was not his drug of choice; He told me several times, “I will never do that mom, I am not that stupid.” All I can assume is that he was not in any right-frame-of-mind and therefore did not realize what he was doing; he had no idea that the heroin was laced with fentanyl.

He just bought new sneakers one week before, a prideful accomplishment on his part; he sent me this photo saying, “I got a good deal , mom, $10 bucks off!.” He recently picked out his meal choice for his brother’s upcoming wedding, “beef” of course, we all knew he’d choose that.  Earlier that week, he made plans to go to the gym with another brother to get back in shape. Just four days before, he wept with a sober friend, confessing he had relapsed and knew he was in trouble and was afraid. I believe he finally got to the point of realizing for himself that he had a problem and needed help.

My son did not intend for his life to end on that terrible night.

So, where was God when he pulled out the heroin packets? Why didn’t God awaken the friend sooner?

As my son began to lose his capacity to breathe, did he know it? When the oxygen level was cut off, and his heart slowed to a stop, could my son comprehend what was happening? Did he cry out for help, inside? Did God hear him?

Here’s what I believe:

I believe that God was with my son the whole time, weeping over his choices perhaps, but loving him through it all. If comfort and assurance was needed as my son was in that flash-of-a-moment, realizing he was dying… I know that God gave comfort. When faced with stuff too hard to do alone,

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:8a. 

I often told my son this.

I believe, that God held his heart, til it’s last beat and cradled his soul with his last exhale, hugging him into heaven. God is a God of compassion and of mercy and He knew even more than we,  how much my son needed to be rescued. And rescue, God did. My son was rescued from ten years of mental anguish, inner turmoil, two years of addiction, and all the fall out that crippled life for him; he suffers no more.

I often think: what was ahead that God spared him from? … the unseen future that only God sees. Because of His sovereignty, I choose to trust that what God allowed was the best for my son; in this trust, my anger dissipates. Though I still weep mournful tears and my arms ache to wrap my arms around my son, I know that God did not fail him, or me.

Currently my son has no need of sneakers, beef, or the gym; Instead, my son enjoys the fullness of peace with God.

If you wonder where God is in your battle, be assured, He is with you because He never leaves us, or forsakes us.

In the Battle – Love

Nose to nose,

I can see your sweat balance on your brow just before it drips like a tear down your cheek.
Heat-flares swirl like flames from your words that are so loud, I cannot hear.
Standing still,
I am not afraid of you. I am afraid for you.
Search I do, with a calm desperation, for my soft tender boy, as I stare steady into your eyes…
Where are you (?) I plead, with a screaming whisper…
I Know you are in there…
My heart holds on like a rope to the mast as you turn in a fury and punch the wall with ramped-up rage, storming ocean waves keep coming without mercy and the sheetrock tells all with it’s gaping hole.
Ah-uuuuugh! Vomits your souls guttural plea, from the inside places that weep inside your brokenness.
Hang on…
I see you soft tender boy, caged by the demons that grip, and tear, and lie to you.
Nose to nose,

I know you see that I am not afraid as your sonship locks on my momma’s gaze, again, as the tide rolls out…
I am afraid for you.
Look at me, don’t turn away soft tender boy.

I see you.
Let me hold your chalk dusted hand.

The third thing I learned in the battle is this:

Loving, is the most important action.

As a Christian, my mantra sings:

Love God. Then Love others.

Love is what enabled me to stand in the storm with my son. I did not leave. I did not give up. And neither should you. Do you suffer by watching your loved one suffer in the illness of addiction? I urge you to stand firm – look hard to see the person underneath their addiction – see the lost child you remember and keep loving, even when it makes no sense to keep loving.

Down deep the one afflicted will know, and that’s what counts most…

that your loved one knows that they are loved.

 

All Lives Matter for Two Reasons

The truth is… ALL LIVES MATTER.

All lives matter for two reasons:

#1. … because, as I believe, God created each of us in His image, and because of this fact, each one of us is a precious individual worthy of respect and love, no matter what we have, or have not done in life. To discredit, or look down on anyone with disdain is an affront to God himself as the Creator of all life.

#2. … because, I believe, everyone has a purpose; God creates and places everyone in the line of history for His purposes.  Our stories involve the ups and downs of life that includes both victories and wounds from the battles we fight, for the purpose of coming alongside one another to be the voice of praise or the arms of comfort of the Lord himself.

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This is why I do what I do.  I write and speak out about issues that affect us all as human beings created in God’s image.  I advocate for the erasing of stigma that causes people to misjudge and misinterpret the situations of another one’s life, especially those suffering in battles that are overwhelming and consuming.

I asked God to help me to see those around me as He sees them; in my heart, this is what He revealed to me:

All lives matter. 

Go and live like you understand that, so that my love may be known.

Dear Reader:

Will you join me and be an advocate for every human life?

Help me define what that looks like….

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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

 

 

 

Everyone Fights A Battle

The truth is, everyone fights a battle.

I am battling the beast of grief because my son battled the beast of addiction, and lost.

There are certain elements needed to fight a battle:  PPE (personal protective equipment), a plan or strategy, and execution & movement of the determined plan. As each of us faces our battle, we need to be mindful of these three things. If we enter the fight without even one of these things, we are likely to lose the battle.

As I face the beast of grief today, my PPE is the Truth: God’s Word tells me there is a purpose and a plan in all things; Truth is my armor.  Family and friends undergird my armor with their love for me, no matter what.

The plan, is for me to keep my mind staid on the Truth; the strategy is simple – know the Word, pray, and be vulnerable to share my feelings.

Strong execution is following thru with the Truth and not turning from it. The battle may be short, or it may be long, depending on the day. Yet I know, that I am able to keep going because my Lord is with me and I am loved.

As I look to my right, or to my left, I see there are battles around me that others are fighting …

… are you enduring a battle today?

If so, I am here to tell you that you can be a conqueror in your battle simply because the Lord loves you!

Not feeling it? Contact me, and I will love on you with all the kindness my heart can give.

Don’t give up.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37