FreeperDad Prayer Request

12/28/2001

[MississippiMan]

I come to you, my fellow Freepers and Christians, asking for your earnest help. My young adult son is straying far from the path that we thought we had amply laid for him as he was being raised. His upbringing may not have been perfect, but it was sincere, always loving, church going, disciplined, and promoting of Christian principles.

His current behavior barely resembles the son I thought I knew. Womanizing, drinking, wild living, and numerous other things of a wayward life have his mother and me just about at the end of our ropes. We've both talked until we're blue in the face and it goes in one ear and out the other. Before you suggest that it's normal sowing of wild oats or that I'm being prudish, let me assure you that I'm anything but prudish. I've lived my share of time on the wrong side of the equation and I'm well aware of what exceeds the limits of normal behavior.

I ask for your help because I know that God does listen to His people who pray to Him. We both pray hard, but the prayers of more brothers and sisters in Christ can only help. I urgently ask you to consider helping us with earnest prayers that God will protect and guide my son and bring him back into the fold. If you're a parent, you can probably imagine how painful this is and how humbling an experience it is to admit that help like this is needed.

Thanks for reading and thanks for any prayer help you're willing to offer.

MM

[Golden Eagle]

MM, I will pray for your family. I also recommend drawing clear distinctions in your discussion of where the choices he makes will lead his life, and be as overdramatic as possible. On one hand he could be a well educated, high income professional with a lovely wife and family, with a close relationship with God and everlasting life. On the other hand, he could get hooked on drugs, or die in a dui crash, or even somehow contract aids with his current behaviour. I know this is a tough thing to imagine for him but maybe the starkness of it will help him realize he needs to change before it's too late. Because as you probably know the longer you live a certain life, the harder it is to ever change it. Good luck and God Bless.

[Saundra Duffy]

Our hearts go out to you. I've been there, freeper pal. My daughter went through similar shenanigans. Rest assured that your parental input will kick in somewhere along the line. Don't beat yourself up over this. "Let go and let God." At one point, I went to ALANON (part of AA) and they helped me understand how NOT to participate in the bad behavior, how NOT to be an enabler (not that I think you are). Also, "tough love" concept helped me, too. "Heavenly Father - Please bless and help this family - In Jesus' Name. Amen!"

[catonsville]

My daughter was very popular during her teen years. Too popular, for she partied too much, studied too little and did not give a damn. She was raised in a good home, so my wife and I were surprised by this. She was listening too much to her"friends"

We supported her, tried to tell her what was right, kept our humor intact and never faltered in our love for her.

Than the rebellion just stopped. She drifted away from her friends, got her BA degree, was married for awhile, is now working for her MBA while selling upscale homes in Florida. Absolutely terrific person and I am very proud of her.

So, there is hope, keep the firm love going, I hope your boy comes to his senses.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I'll keep you, your wife, and your son in my prayers.

From the time I was seventeen years old, until I was thirty-six, I did everything I could to go against the grain of my parents. I rebelled, quit college, enlisted in the Air Force, married someone that was absolutely wrong for me, and looking back, I realize now that it was rebellion. Rebellion against my parents, their way of life, against the church they attended, and against God. It took twenty years, ten years in a bad and dangerous marriage, and a daughter whom I love very much to make me wake up and realize exactly what I was doing.

I'm divorced now, have custody of my eight year old daughter, going to school to finish my degree, going to church, and working hard on my relationship with Christ. Life isn't perfect, it isn't the greatest thing, but I realize now that it's the better than what I had going.

It may be a while before he wakes up. Sometimes, God speaks to us in a still, quiet voice. Othertimes, we can hear Him in the thunderstorm and the wind. Then there are those times, as with me, when He hits you upside the back of the head with a 2x4 and says "LISTEN!"

There have been a lot of good suggestions here. Counseling for you and your wife would be good, Tough Love would be good as well. But also patience, and living the example, as you've been doing.

[xzins]

You've got it.

Your son sounds as if he's reached manhood (drinking is an age 21 behavior now in all states, isn't it?).

If he's of age, then what is working out is his right to freely choose his lifestyle. The lifestyle itself will provide the contrast to the loving home that you offer. When he enters your home may the HS strike him with the eternal contrast between the pit he's in and the atmosphere of Christian love that pervades the home of his childhood.

[snippy_about_it]

Praying in agreement with El Cid post number 14. Amen.

[manna]

Prayer sent...

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Offering prayers of Guidance for your son.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Prayer Warriors needed.

[RaceBannon]

One of the hardest prayers, is to ask God to let someone see the errors of their sinful ways. It might be a rude wake-up call indeed!

I will pray for him, that he wakes up with a nudge before it is bucket of hot coals!

[maestro]

Amen,........More Grace and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

Will he read the book of Proverbs??
It would be instructive.
IMHO

[JDoutrider]

Prayer bttt

[BlessedBeGod]

Prayers on their way for your son and your family.

God bless!

[Kevin Curry]

My closest friend is having a similarly difficult time with his young adult son. I have seen prayers work miracles in lives of such young men. May I suggest that you and your wife fast and pray together--jointly--for his turnaround? Perhaps you're already doing that.

You certainly have my prayers.

[MississippiMan]

I woke up at 25 and have lived a straight & narrow existence since (I'm 50 now).

Praise the Lord for that. I sowed my share of wild oats myself before waking up, and it did take a 2x4 upside my head. What's so scary is that the 2x4's of today's world can be much rougher, generally speaking, than they were in the past.

Thanks so much.

MM

[MississippiMan]

Is he still living in your home?

Went through some similar heartaches about 10 years ago, with 2 daughters; the one I was the hardest on turned out the best....Good Luck, my friend

No, he's living in an apartment. These ways wouldn't cut it here. So glad it worked out in your situation and thank you for your wishes and prayers in mine.

MM

[StarFan]

If you're a parent, you can probably imagine how painful this is and how humbling an experience it is to admit that help like this is needed. I am a parent and share your pain as I try to keep my 17 year old son in tow. Please don't feel humble when calling on friends to help you in your time of need. We're here for you MM.

[RnMomof7]

Luke
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.
12And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.
13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
14But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
15Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17"But when he came to himself, he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'
20"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"But the father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
25"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27And he said to him, "Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'
28"But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.
29So he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.
30But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'
31"And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."'

My "lost" son has returned home,I will pray for yours!