I am the mother of a 34-year-old son who is an addict and a felon. He has been in more rehabs and diversion programs than I can count. He has lived on the streets, been an absconder, and is presently incarcerated for the 9th time.
My son has put my life and the life of his disabled brother in danger so many times when he was dealing drugs that I had to move. I’ve paid off drug dealers. Once I met a gang member’s mom in a parking lot to pay my son’s prison debts so he wouldn’t be killed or badly injured. I picked him up at the hospital on Mother’s Day after one of his many overdoses. I bought him cars that he sold for drug money. And brand-new furniture for when he got out of prison only to have him go back in a couple of months later.
My life for the last 20 years has been one of pain, shame, brokenness, disappointment, fear, and heartache. But my journey isn’t over, and I believe God is calling me to use this pain for His glory and to start a ministry for moms of imprisoned children…Imprisoned to drugs, alcohol, the correctional system or whatever chains control them.
Throughout the ups and downs of this nightmare, I have felt every emotion humanly possible.
I’ve walked in unconditional love, practiced tough love and been so angry at him, that I wasn’t walking in love at all.
There were weeks where I created posters and walked the streets trying to find him and there were months that I wouldn’t answer the door for him.
I’ve written the judge letters asking for leniency and I’ve helped the DA stack charges on him.
I’ve put money on his books every month for one prison stint and blocked his phone calls and refused to speak to him the next stint.
I’ve hidden him from the police, and I’ve turned him into the police.
I put him into rehabs, and I’ve pulled him out of them.
I’ve lied to him, for him, and about him.
I tried everything in the world to fix him and save him and other times I threw in the towel and let him live his consequences.
I’ve spent unending hours praying for healing and deliverance and I’ve asked God to take him home so he could be out of his misery, or maybe so I could be out of mine.
My story is raw and sadly relatable, and I obviously don’t have a lot of answers, but I know the God who does, and I have faith that He has me and my son cradled in His hand and is working all of this for His good. I grew up in surrounded by ministry and have had a call on my life since I was a teenager. I thought that Satan had robbed me of that ministry, but now I have peace and confidence that God is going to use my situation for great ministry even though it looks different than I imagined. My ministry is to to bring hope and healing to others like me …moms out there in need.
I’m just getting started but the vision God has given me is to use this ministry to create:
· Retreats where Moms receive fellowship, encouragement, inspirational messages and healing. Also, a time of restoration through relaxation, yoga, hiking, meditation, prayer, and worship.
· Regional conferences for moms who are hurting, ashamed, lonely, bitter, sad and hopeless, where they can find support and know they are not alone. Where they can discover healing, peace and a renewed hope for their future.
· Camps for grandchildren affected by this pain. As well as resources to help with their school supplies, clothing and even court costs to protect them.
· A book that shares our stories for the benefit of others.
I would appreciate your prayers for God to use this ministry for HIS glory. Thank you for what you do to restore faith in moms like me!
~ Brenda
What gives Brenda hope despite such an overwhelming situation with her son? It is her faith that God holds it all in his loving hands and a purpose for it beyond her pain. If you would like to learn more about finding this hope, please download this free mini eBook – Understanding Hope.
