Hi Kathy,
Interesting that the story of the prodigal didn't reveal what the mom went
through.  But be assurred that God as his father is grieving, and waiting on
him at the right time to make the right choice.  I will pray the the Lord
bring Chris to that true choice sooner, rather than later.  It is
unfortunate that there are two things that limit God's power in our lives.
The first one is unbelief, and the second one is man's will.
    We humans are funny creatures, and it doesn't matter whether we can see
or not.  We all get so focused on what we wantand what we are doing, that it
is very hard for us to see the big picture.  This is what Chris needs to
see.  We need to pray that the Lord gives him a 70 inch screen, with the
following movies.  1, What Chris is now doing to himself and his family. 2,
How Chris is wasting the life God has given, and 3, God's love, power,
judgment and holiness.
Standing with you all,
Vinny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 3:55 PM
Subject: Moving day is coming


> Hi Guys,
>        Well, Chris turns 18 next Tuesday.  Where is he moving?  We don't
> know.  His girl friend's, father's, offer must have ben made while
> the man was, "in his cups," so to speak, because it hasn't been made
> again.  That would be a relief except that they did find someone who
> Chris could move in with.  This was a guy on government assistance
> who was going to make Chris chip in on expenses that he himself
> doesn't pay.  It's not the first time that I've breathed a prayer of
> thanks that Chris was on probation.  Chris has to receive his
> probation officers blessing before he can make good on any of his
> crazy schemes.   This time, it only took one call for the officer to
> learn that Chris was planning on moving in with a sex offender with a
> police record and a history of drug abuse.  Nice friends Nicki's
> parents have!  "NOT!"    AT least this time, it wasn't us who had to
> say "NO!"  It was the officer.  Yea!
>        Tomorrow, Chris is going to throw himself on the mercy of the city
> to see what they may hafve to offer.  To her credit, the probation
> officer has not tried to talk us in to backing down and keeping
> Chris.  Chris wants his freedom.  He thinks that once he moves out
> and gets rid of us all of is problems will be over.  He has no
> money.  He owes us, but can't pay us because the girl friend's
> parents keep borrowing and not paying back.  This weekend, his wallet
> turned up missing.  Chris  suspects Nicki's younger brother, why not,
> the older one has already served two years in juvanile detention, but
> he can't prove it.  Foolishly, what money Chris still had, he refused
> to put in the bank, enjoying the convenience  of having it with him
> when he needs cigarettes or condums, so we have no idea how much he lost.
>        I don't feel bad about letting Chris go.   I know that God is going
> with him and that is such a great comfort.  Strangely, however, I
> know that I will miss him.  Every day lately I've gone down into his
> room to straighten it, make his bed and wash his clothes.  I do this
> for two reasons.  One is to keep out the smell.  Chris doesn't bathe
> regularly, he smokes and he comes home smelling like McDonalds after
> having worked there.  The combination can be overpowering, but if I
> were to insist that he clean everything, it would just be another
> battle that I couldn't really win, so I deal with my anger by keeping
> things clean.  The other reason, however, is that doing this is the
> only way that I can love Chris right now, in secret, where he can't
> stop me.  I take the time while making his bed and folding his
> clothes to pray hard for him.  It's the only expression of love that
> I am allowed right now and so I take it.  In five days, it will be
> all over.    I am at peace with that.  Sometimes, it hurts when I
> here the other children express their desire that he leave sooner
> than later, but I can't blame them.  I had just always wanted a close
> knit, Walton type family I guess, but the reality is that I don't
> have that.  I do have three great kids who do enjoy our togetherness,
> however, and I know that some parents don't even have that, so I
> still have a lot to be thankful for.
>        Please keep Chris in your prayers.  He is off track now, but I
> still
> know, with certainty, that his dross will be consumed and his gold
> will be refined.  I still believe in him even though it looks
> hopeless right now.  I keep saying, "where there is life there is
> hope."  He was dedicated to the Lord at three months.  I've always
> seen my kids as, on loan from God.  Well, next week, I completely
> surrender him back to the father.  "Go with him, Lorrd.  I"m so glad
> to know that he will never be out of your sight.  Amen."
> Kathy
>