--"Lord Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness, for Your steadfast love, and for Your eternal presence. May I always honor Your presence in my care for others, and may I honor the sanctity of life wherever it is found In Jesus Name. ~~"
~~"Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." --(Matthew 28:20) --
--Recently, I received the sort of phone call that would bring any parent to his or her knees. Justin, my twenty-five-year-old son, said, "Mom I want to end my life. I just want out of this world. I can't take this life anymore." In that moment, I felt panic, fear, sadness, helplessness, and loneliness all at the same time.
Justin has struggled with major depression disorder since the age of twelve. We have had many crises, but I thought he was doing better. As I spoke to my son, trying with every part of myself to save this child I love so purely, my prayer was, "Jesus, please, please be with him. Show me what I should do or say to him."
As a parent it was excruciating to hear how painful life is for my child. There was nothing I could do or say to make a difference in Justin's thoughts at that time. The only hope was for Jesus to be with us. I prayed the most sincere prayers of my life that day, imploring Jesus to take control. In our desperate situation, indeed Jesus came.
Jesus walked with Justin and me that day. He was the voice of a family member who helped locate a hospital for my son. Jesus was the steady and reassuring manner of the nurse who took Justin to his room there. He was with me as I sat in the waiting room crying uncontrollaby. Through this trying time in our family, Jesus faithfully walked alongside us and kept Justin safe not only that day, but every day since. ~~
