Good morning, Vicki,

I know this message was for Kathy, but just wanted you to know that I
really needed to read this today, also.  Thank you!

Love and blessings,
Helen



Earlier, Vicki and The Rors wrote:
>Hi Kathy,
>
>Glad the Lord gave you a good perspective here.  It is so easy for all of us
>to get so wrapped up in one thing going on in our lives such that it
>overshadows everything else.  So, um, welcome to humanity.  Smile.  Getting
>a God perspective makes all the difference in the world, and for that
>matter, the difference is out of this world too.
>
>Blessings,
>Vicki
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, November 26, 2004 5:55 AM
>Subject: my Thanksgiving
>
>
> > HI Guys,
> > Well, thanksgiving day has passed and I must say that God blessed our
> > family with a good day. It is such a good spiritual exercize to have a
> > day focusing on thanks right in the middle of a stressful situation. On
> > Wednesday, as Greg and I were preparing for our church's Thanksgiving Eve
> > service, I must admit that, for a moment, a nasty little comment flitted
> > through my brain, something like, "oh yah, what have I got to be thankful
> > for." Then, it hit me, I have a great deal to be thankful for. I have a
> > wonderful new home, a healthy family and a wonderful marrital
> > relationship. Chris is just one small thing and I rob myself and everyone
> > else if I focus on him rather than my blessings.
> > I love the war analogy that Phil has planted in my head as well. I almost
> > feel like I'm working for the CIA right now, but that is the way things
> > must be. We know that Chris had a joint, and was hoping to get at least
> > one friend to come over and share it with him, but he didn't have any
> > takers. Of course, when he was out of the house, we were franticly
> > searching to find it, but no deal. Anyway, we learned from what we read
> > last night that he must have slipped out of the house, to his shed to
> > smoke the thing in the middle of the night in about 30 degree weather, by
> > himself. That must have been an enjoyable high. We're learning that his
> > self esteem must be even lower than we realized because after he got paid
> > for work on Wednesday, one of the ploys he used to try to get someone to
> > pick him up and take him to the mall where he could share his joint, was
> > to say, "don't worry, I've got plenty of money." If that doesn't sound
> > like the prodigal son, trying to buy friends, I don't know what else
> > would.
> > You guys, I know that you hear a lot of the bad stuff about Chris because
> > of what we are dealing with, but I know who he is deep down inside. He is
> > an artest. He can be a real clown. He's great at making people laugh when
> > he wants too. When he was younger, he was always the peace maker between
> > his siblings and he was usually the first to apologize to us, of all the
> > kids, when there was trouble. Underneath, he has a very sensitive spirit.
> > I often think that his growl is his attempt to protect himself from
> > getting hurt worse. His perfectionism and hiper anxiety make him not
> > value what he has to offer to the world. The weird thing is that he
> > doesn't seem to know himself why he does some of the things that he does.
> > For example, earlier this fall, he and Greg were talking about Chris's
> > history of explosive and violent anger. That hasn't happened for a while
> > now and Chris's comment to Greg was, "What was with that?" As if Greg
> > might have the ansser to the reason why. That same question came up
> > yesterday at the dinner table. Chris was really enjoying the turkey and
> > sausage stuffing and he asked us, "I don't know why I was a vegitarian.
> > What was with that anyway?" I suppose that some day, and I hope sooner
> > than later, he will ask the same question about drugs, but now he is
> > bordering on the dangerous and we have to find a way to intercede before
> > he decides to try something else. I find myself praying for wisdom by the
> > hour, to make the right move. Last night, he was really insistant that
> > Honey go down stairs with him for the night. I insisted that, if she were
> > to go down stairs that the door stay open so that she would have the
> > freedom to come back up and he was okay with that, but I can't help but
> > be suspicious that something is cooking.
> > What if we Christians were always as vigilent in spiritual things as I am
> > becoming with Chris? I believe that that is what Paul means when he
> > encourages us to be sober and vigilent and on guard, but we get lulled
> > into a false sense of security, not taking seriously the warning that
> > Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. It's good to
> > enjoy the good times, as God's gift to us, but we must still be on guard
> > as well.
> > God bless,
> > Kathy
> >
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