I'm glad you didn't stay home Kathy, and I'm proud of you for going when you
wanted to hide out.  Glad there are those who are extending their love and
prayers to you in that congregation.  The body of Christ is for sharing.
And it sounds like that's exactly what is happening there too.  You never
know what word on someone's card sent with love and prayers will do for
Chris.  The Lord still works even in hard hearts.

Don't know about that sentence Kathy.  Phil might have more of a feel for
it.

Keep us posted.  And will be praying as you talk with the grand parents.


Vicki


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 4:56 PM
Subject: Re: [ECHURCH-USA] My mother's day!


> Hey Ned, and Vicki,
>          Yes, I was tempted to stay home, in my little hole, but I knew
> that that wouldn't be the right thing for me.  I did go, and the service
> went well.  I got lots of hugs from the people who know what is going
> on,  and a few people pulled me aside to pray with me privately.  I would
> have missed out on all that had I stayed home in misery.  Our body of
> Christ has really been there for us through all of this.  chris, in a way,
> is their son too.  We're all hoping that this will be the wake up call for
> him to turn around, but, if not, I know that they will pray with us
through
> what will come as well.
>          A few years ago, I would not have said this.  IN fact, those of
> you who were on the list then know that I did not have a lot of good
things
> to say about this congregation at the time, but they have really been
> growing spiritually and now, I feel so blessed to be a part of such a
> loving community.  We're all just praying that our prodigal, Chris, will
> come home soon.  I can't tell you how many people have come up to me to
> specifically tell me how much they miss him.  He won't here that right now
> and he doesn't understand why they are being so loving, sending cards and
> letters and continuing to pray.  I think though, that he is in that place
> were he cant take blessing from anybody, including our savior.  He is just
> so messed up.
>          He has continued to test clean for drugs, but now, he is dabbling
> with smoking and he is obsessed with this girl.  He's like a raging bull
> about it.  He had been looking forward to having his probation over with
so
> that he could get back to all of his other recreations as well, but now,
we
> have no clue what the future will hold.  What do you think the sentence is
> for three felonies on a first offence?
> Kathy
>
>
> At 06:17 PM 5/8/2005, you wrote:
> >Kathy,
> >I have not been where you are either but I have experienced having to
lead a
> >service and act as if everything was fine when my heart was breaking.
> >Back in 1972 (sound like an old man about to tell a story?) while I was
> >pastor at Cleveland Avenue Christian Church, my wife who had a dependency
on
> >prescribed drugs, after 18 day in the hospital witha blood clott in her
> >lung, knowing that she would die, took tons of pills.  I don't know if
she
> >intentionally did it or had taken so many that she didn't know what she
was
> >doing.  I had been up all night with her, changing the bed and washing
> >sheets and was just about done in.  It was Wednesday and I had to lead
and
> >teach the service that night in our Bible study.  I called a nurse friend
of
> >ours who came over and stayed with my wife while I went to service.  I
was
> >just about to fall apart because of the hurt for my wife and the concern
> >that I could loose her.  It was about the hardest thing I have ever done
but
> >the Lord who is faithful saw me through it and got my wife out of the
hole
> >too.  Praise Him.  Remember, Jesus, the same today, tomorrow and forever.
> >
> >Love and hugs while praying,
> >
> >Ned
>