Are you a parent who suffers from stinking thinking? Do you beat yourself up, believing you must have done a terrible job because of how your child turned out? They abuse substances, have a mental illness, self-injure, disrespect authority, are incarcerated, desire a...
Summer is here. I live in Florida, an hour from the beach. There's danger in the waters, and it's not always from a sea creature. We hear tragic reports of drownings from a different kind of danger: rip currents. As I thought about this, I realized something: parents...
Note: This is Part 3 of a three-part series. Find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.I'll never forget the day I discovered my daughter was suicidal.Paralyzed, shocked and overwhelmed with fear, I was at a loss to know what to do. I didn't think there was anything I could do...
Note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series. Find Part 1 here, and watch for Part 3 coming soon.You're worried. Quivering from nervous anxiety, you can't sleep. Your appetite is nil. You can barely concentrate on anything. Work is almost impossible. You're pretty sure...
Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part article. Watch for Part 2 soon.Suicide. The statistics worldwide are increasing annually. Your life may have been touched by a suicide or you may be fearful for a loved one, maybe even your son or daughter.When you see warning signs...
(This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Find Part 1 here.)Have you ever thought a loved one, maybe your child, was in danger of suicide? Were you terrified to ask, afraid if you did, your question could encourage them to follow through and end their life?Many people...
Note: This is Part 1 of a series. Find Part 2 here."It's a miracle she's still alive". The psychiatrist's words hung in the air between my daughter, my husband and me. We had no idea she was in that much danger of becoming another suicide statistic. The moment is...
Over the last 14 years, my journey of being the mom of a troubled daughter has been like running a race, but this race is not a sprint, it's a marathon. It's a long-distance endurance run. My goal was and still is, to not quit, but to make it to the end (whatever that...
My daughter is 31. Her name is Renee. In some circles, she's well-known because of her struggles (twloha.com). You can learn more about that here. She's wrestled with alcohol and drug abuse, self-harm and mental health issues for many years.I was in denial.In the...
If you're a hurting parent, I have a message of hope for you today. Can you remember when your children were young and would be invited to birthday parties? You'd go shopping together and select a gift for their friend. I remember those days.I raised three kids, and...
During the worst of my daughter's prodigal years, I never had any reassurances from God that her problems would resolve the way I wanted them to.An all-consuming dependency on alcohol and drugs plus the complication of mental health issues and self-injury threatened...
How can hurting parents whose children are in bondage to all types of damaging behaviors and addictions, mental health issues and more, be free from all that steals their peace and joy? Is there a freedom song for them to sing?What do these parents need to be freed...
Parents of teens or adults who struggle with a wide array of problems pray for many things. We cry out to God, pleading for help and deliverance. Their brokenness crushes our hearts. We're often in deep distress. We're restless and anxious. Weary, bone-tired and...
(Please share this with a dad you know who may be hurting on Father's Day.) Father's Day is Sunday. Are you a dad with a broken heart? Is your soul weighed down with disappointment, worry or sadness? If so, this day can be hard—even excruciating. Positive...