Yesterday I spoke with a Mom who was reading this blog and crying. Her son was 17 for the last day she told me. Today he turned 18. Addiction and the chaos which defines it is inflicting terrible trauma on her son and family. This mom could not be sure that her son had another day and that fear breaks her heart.
I remember those days and am grateful for having had the opportunity to hear her pain. My recollection of what happened three years ago could fade into pale images until my view of our actions is distorted unless I hear and see the pain. Sometimes I forget and begin to wonder if I was wrong to send Aaron away for a year and then I am reminded of the hate, anger, recklessness, carelessness, ugliness, sickness, fear, and helplessness. Then I see reality and know the action was a relevant choice.
When the son or daughter is gripped by the claws of the drug culture, we don't see our son or daughter; we see what they have had to become to survive. This isn't their choice, it is their necessity. I could hear this Mother's broken heart sobbing. She stood on the door step to her birth-date for her oldest child. Eighteen years ago, she prepared to give birth to her son. Only images of beautiful times ahead could have filled her days. A joyous day that December 13th, followed by happy birthdays for year after year after year...until now.
Standing at the road with no future my friend was watching her son contemplate his destiny. The road is well traveled and unkind. A person can turn around, or get off the road, but they can not take this road to anywhere beyond the dead end.
At 18 a son or daughter can choose to leave home. At 18, a Mother and Father don't stop acheing for the safety of their children. Under the mask of being what they have to be to live in the drug culture, is the son and daughter with the happy soul. How can they be set free and live?
Today I heard from an AODA counselor who told me a heart warming story of a young man in recovery. This college age young man opened a savings account for "Rent to Aaron's House". His plan for recovery includes being one of the first residents at Aaron's House and that is a motivation for him. I call that, in Aaron's words "RESPONSIBILITY!"
I will pray that the son who turned 18 today discovers a fork in the road and chooses the road less traveled soon.
Peace
Tom
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comment:
Hi Tom,
I sat down tonight with the insinct to stop here and make my daily visit to aaronmeyerfoundation.org.. Tonight, I'm going to bed thankful for the work that you have put into this. The foundation started out with a rock and a stick with no direction. I know that Aaron would think that this would be so awesome. And I cant wait to see the type of young men that take a step into part of Aarons dream. With the foundation, and the other contributors, which, by the way, are awesome, I cant wait to see what the future holds.
You're Awesome.
Aaron's House is truly one of the greatest things that I have ever been a witness of.
Keep Living the Dream.
With Love,
Amanda
Post a Comment