Any embarrassment was completely overwhelmed by love... Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Parents of Prodigals Love Your Child Unconditionally Why We Don’t Love Unconditionally Many parents are terribly embarrassed by their prodigals. Sometimes after I talk about this subject in churches and conferences, parents come up to tell me I don’t understand. They explain in whispers that their child is a homosexual…or in prison… or living with another woman… or whatever. Then they follow this revelation with the self-evident disclosure, “And I am so embarrassed." Let me make this very clear: Just because your child is living in sin, you have no right to love him or her less. You don’t need to approve of your prodigal’s behavior, but you are commanded by God to love the person anyway. Unconditional love means we love our children for who they are, not what they have done. Think of the Prodigal Son’s father. That fine Jewish man, probably a leader in his community and his synagogue, had a son who was living with prostitutes and wasting money left and right. As if that weren't bad enough, then word came back that he had lost everything and was now feeding hogs! What could be more embarrassing? But that father didn't let anything – neither his embarrassment nor the whispers of his friends – cause him to love his son any less. The moment his son returned, he was eager to pour out his love. Any embarrassment was completely overwhelmed by love. The second reason we may fail to love our prodigals is bitterness. We become angry with them for acting so foolishly, our anger gradually turns to resentment, and resentment festers into bitterness. The writer to the Hebrews recognized the threat that bitterness poses to relationships: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled… Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV Parenting Prodigals by Phil Waldrep Dear Fellow Parents of Prodigals, In all of our emotions; pain, anger, bitterness even unforgiveness, I pray that God would continue to work on us as we submit to Him. Show us Your ways, Father. Challenge our “humanness” and grow us into the image of Your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to love unconditionally as YOU have loved us. Show us how to release all anger and bitterness so that You can shine through us. Allow Your unconditional love to flow through us for we know that without You we are not able to love. Thank You for loving through me! Amen! Love and Praying, Linda and PoP (Parents of Prodigals)
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I have been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Who is going to be here for him? Who will help him when he comes home? Who will care about him and his well being in that horrible place. The cancer is bad but not as hard as the worry for him. I need him here so very bad. I'm not sure how he will deal with this, he just lost his dad to cancer last year. I must make arrangements for a guardian for his inheritance, change all my beneficiaries, see about a automatic draft for his canteen and so much more. I know no one else is going to keep money on his phone, order his packages, call and check on him. The thought of dying without him near is more than I can bear. The thoughts of him being all alone in that horrible place is a living nightmare. When the doctors are talking to me, I'm thinking of him. I will be unable to visit for at least five weeks, not to mention he's six hours one way from me. What do I do with his stuff? Will anyone be there to pick him up when he comes home? How can I make it less hard for him. I'm not giving up yet but I need to try to get things in order just in case. I wish screaming and tears helped but it doesn't. Never forget to count your blessings as you descend into despair. He's still alive and can communicate. So many thoughts, concerns and feelings. I could deal with this cancer if I only knew he would be taken care of. I start chemo and radiation July 25th, major surgery in September if I live through the chemo/radiation. Y'all helped me so very much when he was taken away and I ask for your help now. Please pray for him and me too.
When your heart is breaking for someone who is broken, but your words can't reach them and your love can't save them, ask the angels to go where you cannot. To whisper into their heart what their ears can't hear: "We will not give up on you. Don't give up on yourself"
____Sandra Kring
When your heart is breaking for someone who is broken, but your words can't reach them and your love can't save them, ask the angels to go where you cannot. To whisper into their heart what their ears can't hear: "We will not give up on you. Don't give up on yourself"
____Sandra Kring
I get an email from my son (Lansing KS) with him complaining about taking a test . I assumed that it was a prep test for his GED. I told him to TAKE THE TEST. That it was probably going to set him up for further progress or failure depending on how he handles it
After writing him 2 tuff love emails I have not heard from him. What do you think is going on?
I am so new to this and need some guidance.
Thank you
This is good news!
State, ACLU join forces in effort to reduce use of solitary confinement in Alaska prisons
Hi Everyone,
I've been away for a while. My husband has suffered the tortures of the damned with shingles in his eye and face, plus after-effects and several other medical issues. Aging is not for sissies -- kinda like being the parent of an inmate!
Anyway, my son will be paroled at the end of July. Because of where his children live, he will need to find housing in northern San Diego County. I live in another state.
My son has never used tobacco, alcohol, or drugs; he has never committed a violent crime. He is craving some normality in starting a new life, and he would love to find someone who would rent a small apartment -- over the garage, perhaps.
Since many of us are in the same boat ("How did we get here?"), I'm not sure if anyone will have any suggestions. I think the only hope is finding someone who knows someone, but how? How does a newly released felon find decent housing, when a background check is going to raise a hundred red flags?
I won't go on. I'm just hoping against hope that someone here has an idea I haven't thought of.
Thanks,
Janet
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel like there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living person you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To bee too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Need an attorney for the second appeal, writ 1107.
So I wake up with pure anxiety today...what does this mean? Is my boy going to have a bad day today? Is it a sign of something???? Who knows!!!
A psychologist will be evaluating PJ soon to see if he REALLY understands his Miranda Rights...and verbalize his multiple mental illnesses...ADHD with severe compulsiveness, depression, anxiety. The good news is after seeing his DVD recorded statement, his attorney feels pretty good that it can be suppressed. That would be wonderful!
I want to tell his story to all but I am scared that somehow it will do him harm....
The 18th was 12 weeks he's been in jail. Adult jail...with juveniles. I'm so glad I raised a boy to accept all people of all mentalities and colors! This little podunk town of Freeport is so...not so much discriminating, but, WHITE!! I hate it here!!! They all hate my son! Not all, but, you know.
I'm a rookie at this and I find it hard to get information on my son. I have added money to his Advance pay account and listed 3 phone numbers he can call, mine his stepfathers and his stepdads business. We haven't heard from him in 3 weeks. He said he tried to call my number but that it wouldn't go through. I check and the money is still on there. I received one call about 4 weeks ago. Anyway he was just transferred from intake and is now at his destination. I called the prison and was told it takes about a week to set up his phone services unless he is on sanctions ( that is my fear) . Is there a way to find out if he is on sanctions and if so is he allowed to receive letters or send them. Thank you to anyone who has some knowledge on this. We are in the process of filling out a visitors application but I would hate to get approved drive all the way there and then have them say sorry he is on sanction. anyway.. Bless you all for your support>> as it is difficult but you have made me feel it is manageable.
Blessings,
Lori
