But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation. To him be the power forever! Amen.
[ 1 Peter 5:10-11 (GNT)]
Christine says:
My battle with my son Kyle’s drug addiction had been long and difficult, but my prayer was unrelenting. On a Thursday morning, it was decided that my son was going into rehab for one year. He wanted to get clean so badly, and although I tried to get him into a program 2 months ago but the judge blocked it ordering my son to 160 hours of community service, I didn’t get it. I pleaded with the judge to send my son to go to rehab, I had set it all up and b/c he was on probation they needed permission, but to no avail. One night not long after, he texted me one night at 2am and said- “I love you” – that was it…I knew something was wrong! Everything that was in me was on alert, not that those words are rare but just something about it screamed “goodbye.” So I called 911 and had a unit sent to his house and they took him in. He didn’t stay in recovery for very long, actually he left himself after just one day.
A few days after yet another failed attempt on my part to get my son help from the judge, my son broke probation by showing up late, and told the probation officer to please send him to jail- he just wanted off the streets because he felt that he was going to die. His probation officer made a call and said, “ok, you have 24 hours to get into rehab or I will send you to jail.” My son called to tell me the good news, but nothing could prepare me for what happened the night before he went into rehab.
The whole day before Kyle was set to leave for rehab, I was praising God because it was finally happening – and a few hours later my world crashed. I was at church giving the “praise report” when I got a call from emergency telling me that my son had been shot. My heart stopped. My son had given the store clerk my number as they both waited on the police. I rushed over to the store and saw him on the ground covered in blood with paper towels all over his left eye. With a weak voice, covered in blood, he said, “Mom- it’s ok- please don’t worry- I talked to God, he is here with me, I am going to heaven. I will see you there- please don’t cry for me, I am ok- I am ready.”
I just stood there frozen. Time stood still for me as the helicopter landed and airlifted Kyle to the hospital. I was so numb on the way to the hospital but I kept praising God. In my heart I knew he was dead, but I was thanking God for allowing him the chance to not only get right but to allow me to know he was going to heaven. I just thanked God because my biggest fear in this journey was that he would end up dead, and I would not know if he got right, the thought of him burning in hell for eternity would have put me in a nut house. So I was very thankful that God allowed him to go this way. I was truly comforted in the most insane way. All I could think to do was sing praise songs, I was alright.
I got to the hospital and I sat there waiting, wondering how the Doctor would come tell me my son, my baby was gone. My mom was there, the Pastor and his wife, my friend Beth and her husband, Kyla was on her way- my ex in laws were there, Kyle’s girlfriend and her friend- Ann was there (she drove me) – and I told them all how much I was comforted. I think they all thought I was just in shock. Finally, the Doctor came out and said, “Ma’am, I am so sorry.” I was shaking my head because I already knew the news. I knew he was gone, and yet I had such a peace imagining him playing the guitar and hanging with Jesus.
After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor continued, “I really tried but just could not save his eye.”
I looked up in complete confusion and said “excuse me?” The doctor clarified, “I really tried to save his eye but there was too much damage.” Still utterly confused, I asked “…is he alive?” The doctor said, “Oh yes, he was incredibly lucky, the bullet went in on the side and exited out of the cheek and missed the frontal lobe by a hair. His right eye still has 20/20 vision and it completely missed his brain. There is no sign of brain damage – he will make a full recovery. Tomorrow morning we will go in and clean it up and sew up the area. Would you like to see him?”
I was stunned. My heart was pounding. I could not believe it. God had spared him. I was speechless. I met the comforter that night and I still have no words to describe it. I was in awe. I felt so loved by my Father in heaven. I went into his room and I didn’t see the 21 year old drug addict. I saw my son. For a moment I was flooded with the reality of everything, and I just stared and soon focused in on the oxygen mask, neck brace and bloody gauze covering his left eye.
I took his hand, and at that moment he squeezed my hand and said “I’m so sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. I told God in the helicopter if he let me live I would turn my life around and use it for him. At first I was relieved to die, I said yes God- all this pain will be over, I am ready. And then I was in the helicopter and started thinking about you and grandma and grandpa and how much I have hurt everyone and I asked that God please let me make it right.”
I think God was holding me because I was just swaying back and forth with my heart exploding with love. I had experienced a glimpse of Abraham’s heart. I had laid Kyle down at the altar, at His feet, and God spared him.
//From the SYSN Admin: Isn’t it absolutely amazing how God works? Please comment on Christine’s story, and remember to also Share YOUR story with us here: http://shareyourstorynow.org/share
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Story posted on Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 and is filed under Abuse, Drugs & Alcohol, Parenting, Prayer, Your Stories. | 15 Comments »
