Addiction is in my family. My father was an alcoholic, so were my grandfathers, and uncles. Two of my siblings have struggled with addiction. My oldest brother has been in the grip of drug addiction for decades. It has taken everything from him. He has been homeless most of his life. In and out of jail, rehab, and even prison. When I see one of his mugshots it takes my breath away. I have been praying for my brother for years, and I will continue to do so until he gets set free and fully surrenders his life to Jesus Christ.
I am no expert on addiction, but I do have a lot of compassion for the addict and their loved ones. There are wonderful people out there fighting the good fight for the addicted. Jeannie Delahunt is one of those special people. I am honored to have Jeannie on my blog.
Jeannie is an author who wrote out of love for her heroin addicted son. She is a Jesus loving woman with a strong faith, and hope for the addict. Please welcome Jeannie and read a little of her story. You will be blessed.
Jeannie’s Story
I wrote my two books, Tough Loving My Heroin Addict, A Lesson from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and You’re Not Alone, the Prayer Journey of a Heroin Addict’s Mother, first for my own sanity, then, in the hopes of supporting other parents enduring the same or similar anguish.
Writing has always been a coping mechanism for me.
When I first found out how all-consuming my son’s addiction was, all I could do for two weeks was sit on my couch and stare out the window. I hardly ate or slept. I just couldn’t believe this happened to my son, to us, his brother, our family. I felt as though I had entered the land of never-ending tombs.
I remember saying in my mind, because I couldn’t really pray at the time, “If You don’t do something, this will kill me.”
Fortunately, a dear Christian sister checked on me every couple of days. She didn’t lecture, or preach, she just asked, “Can I do anything for you? I’m praying for you, your son, the situation.”
Somewhere, during those two weeks, it came to me to write. I do believe that came from God.
I wrote.
It didn’t take any form at first. I just wrote whatever came to me. In time it took form. Actually, it took form after another perspective from the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24).
I focused on the dad in the story.
Then I knew with the help of the Holy Spirit, I needed to let my son go and place him in the care of the Lord. In no way, shape, or form, could I protect my son, enable him. He would need to suffer the consequences of his own actions. I suffered, too.
Everyone who loves an addict, alcoholic, suffers, too.
The second book I wrote to support those parents or loved ones praying daily, all through the day, and even into the night- time. Those sobbing into their pillows, some, perhaps, having to go to work in the morning, trying to muster all the internal strength they had just to get through the day.
I wanted them to know that someone else understood their sufferings and prayed for them. My greatest hope with that book, for the reader(s) to hold on, and trust. For each day could mean a knock on the door from the authorities. A knock signaling the death from overdose, or any other drug-related reason.
Unfortunately, there aren’t enough services out there. And our culture is a drug-oriented culture. Just look at the passing of recreational marijuana recently. Now, we not only have to cope with drunk-driving, but stoned, and drunk-driving.
Marijuana, for instance, might have its place – but under the strict supervision of the docs, not for legal sale on the street corners. Our culture holds many double-messages. We advertise the dangers of smoking cigarettes but endorse the smoking of pot. Go figure.
To date, my son struggles with sobriety. I praise God and believe some day; God will set every cell in his body free from this oppression. I pray for all who love an addict, alcoholic and for deliverance of their loved one.
Connect with Jeannie at her website.
Meghan E White 