Family Troubles
I had to decide hard whether I was going to publish this. I didn't last time this happened, but my family needs all the support they can get right now. This afternoon my mother went back into the hospital from her second suicide attempt in a few weeks. She again overdosed on her medication, but she once again escaped death. I don't know if she'll get another chance.
The last time it happened I was sitting in a Perspectives class, and I got a call that I needed to go the Grandview Hospital. I arrived, and I was told that we were basically waiting on my mother to die. She had taken a lethal amount of medication, and the situation was hopeless. But somehow she barely escaped death. She was put back in a psychatric ward (the third time in the last few years) for evaluation. They let her out, and our family was hoping that this time progress was made. I guess not.
She has always been a depressed women for as long as I can remember, but things have only started to get really bad in the last few years. My father and her getting divorced was the thing that sent her downward, and she is still getting worse. She filed for chapter 11, and she just recently filed for chapter 7 which will pretty much ruin any kind of credit for quite a while. With medical bills over $30,000 she didn't have a choice.
It's becoming hard to continue this fight. I have, in all honesty, grown rather apathetic to it. To come home and hear that your mother just attempted suicide is becoming a "normal" event. I feel the worse for my little brother (16) and my little sister (13) who have had to watch my mother go through all this first hand, because they have been the ones living with her (I currently live with my father). They have become numb to the pain.
Please pray for her, but not just for her physical condition, but for her spiritual condition as well. She believes she is saved, but sadly she is not. I don't know what's harder: watching your mother destroy herself, or watching your mother continue to believe that she is saved.
"You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." - James
Feb 21st 2006 
17 Comments 
Feb 21st 2006
Sorry to hear that bro... Its very easy to lose faith at times like this, keep faith that God is gonna heal her. I will be praying for your family. Keep me in the loop...
Feb 21st 2006
Diddo (to Chris)
Feb 21st 2006
Wow...I occasionally come to this site to read an article and end up reading a few...had no idea things were so rough with your mom.
I want you to know that I will really be praying for your family and for her....recently a pastor friend of mine told me 'there's nothing so broken that it cannot be fixed'...doesn't sound very 'spiritual', but it encouraged my heart as my hubby and I were experiencing some very real martial problems.
I don't have your email anymore, but I have some information that might be helpful for your mom, but its somewhat personal and I would rather not share it on here. If you are interested, let me know.
Hoep this encourages you...from Ps. 27:13&14, I believe:
"I would have despaired unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord"
Feb 21st 2006
I am praying for you and for your family as well.
~Psalm 46~
Feb 22nd 2006
Hi there, I really don't know you as I just came to this site when doing a search on soul mates. However, I want you to know that I am praying for your mother, first and foremost for her spiritual situation. Secondly I am praying for her mental status. I dare say the two are connected. Please remember that depression is a disease, I know this is not an excuse but rather that she is likely not intentionally trying to hurt you or her siblings. The suicide attempts are a sad reality of an untreated disease. I can only imagine how terribly painful this is for you. I also realize how dark this time may be for your mom to do something so drastic. What is it that makes you say that your mom is not saved? Its sad to think a person could be in such a dark place without the light of hope.
Feb 22nd 2006
Oh wow, I just realized we are very like minded in theology. Nice to know that there are others out there pursuing good doctrine. I think its hilarious that something so.. undoctrinal as "soul mates and whether or not it had a place in christianity" brought me to the site of someone who has a passion for apologetics. Thats cool!
Feb 22nd 2006
Check your email... I am continuing to pray for you, your mother and the rest of your family. Know this, You are loved and "Be still and know that I AM GOD."
Feb 22nd 2006
You and your family are always in my prayers.
Feb 22nd 2006
Your mom will be in my prayers as well, Chris. Don't let apathy get to you, I think it's one of Satan's strongest tools.
Feb 22nd 2006
I'll definantly be praying for her.
Feb 22nd 2006
Chris, I will remember this in my prayers.
I am taken aback at the thought of a family member struggling this deeply. I am filled with compassion for you and for her.
Feb 22nd 2006
Hey Chris,
I'm throwing some up for you man. I understand to an extent to watch a mother do damaging things to themselves.
But I want you to know that I've also seen God restore and do marvelous things years later with my relationship with my mother.
He loves you. Stay strong. -PW
Feb 22nd 2006
I am so very sorry, Chris.
Feb 23rd 2006
Chris, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. That is a really tough thing to have to deal with. I'll be praying for you and your family in this situation. Just continue to talk with your mom about her salvation status as I'm sure you have been.
(And in response to your xanga comment today, yes, since valentine's he's been at boyfriend status...although that doesn't eliminate us having certain spiritual issues to continue to work through, at least it's finally official).
Feb 23rd 2006
Chris,
Having dealt with depression myself, I know a little of what your Mom might be going through. (I am looking right now, but can't find the chapter and verse, however even the apostle Paul suffered with some depression). I don't know you very well (we've met once), but my advice to you is to echo what someone said above. Do NOT let Satan use this as a foothold for apathy, either in your relationship with your parents, or with Christ (I doubt you would in the latter). Keep fighting the good fight, knowing that your Christian brothers and sisters genuinely have your back. Pray without ceasing about your Mom's mental condition and her walk. I will add you and your family to my prayer list. You are to be commended for your transparency.
Feb 25th 2006
I finally found where the apostle Paul talks about his despair and how he has sought comofort from God. I hope this helps.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (NIV)
The God of All Comfort
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Mar 4th 2006
You and yours are in my constant prayer.