A friend who coordinates a website for ministry wives asked me to share some of our recent journey with our son in hopes of encouraging one of her readers. Below is my feeble attempt at trying to let another mom know that she is not alone:

Drug addiction found its way into our home several years ago, and we have never been the same. We desperately desired to raise children who loved the Lord with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength; instead, we raised kids who chose to believe the deceiver, and one of them found himself in a place where he couldn't get out.

Even though our journey into drugs and alcohol began when our son was in high school (and thus, a minor), his addiction -- and all the garbage that comes with it -- flourished when he was away at college. After flunking out of school and getting his 2nd DUI, he found himself floundering because he had eliminated many of his more 'attractive' life choices. A sullen, dejected, deceitful addict is a difficult person to live with and love unconditionally. Needless to say, I probably didn't do this very well. But, in God's strength (and His ALONE), I got up every day, remembering that HIS mercies are new every morning, and loved as best I knew how.

So, after years of dreading every phone call (because we had gotten the hospital one, the jail one, and several others related to his poor choices), we got the one telling us our son had passed out at work after using drugs and was being held by a local security force for possible arrest. When it was determined that his physical life was not in danger, we began to deal with the bigger problems. We were told that he would be released to us if we would promise to secure treatment for him in the next day or two. If he was not willing to do this, he would be arrested.

Wow, what a choice! Of course, he wanted to avoid arrest but he was very reluctant -- even at this very low point -- to enter treatment. It seemed that NOW he was concerned about how much it would cost us or what embarrassment it might bring to our family. How crazy is this! We had already endured loss of money and property as a result of his school failures, medical expenses, and even theft. And, by now, we had already dealt with the embarrassment factor: God reminded us this was not about us but about our son.

God opened a door we didn't even know existed: a very affordable, faith-based drug recovery program called Teen Challenge. Our son's journey through this program was everything we had hoped and prayed for, primarily that his spiritual man was revived and he came to agree that he didn't have a drug problem, he had a sin problem, and that falling in love with Jesus and His word was the 'cure.'

Our son worked through each phase of the program for a total of 18 months and, four weeks ago, we attended his Teen Challenge graduation. We're often asked, "Did he go into the program willingly?" Honestly, the answer is no; he begged us not to take him but we knew we didn't have a choice. He had been back home for almost 8 months of 'tough love' before that encounter with the law, and God showed us that we were not going to be the ones to 'fix' the problem. Others ask, "Isn't 12-18 months a long time?" Why, yes, it is, but then again, it's a drop in the bucket of life when you consider we've got our son back. A harder question to grapple with was "Is this his first time in rehab?" I'm not so naive as to think he doesn't continue to struggle with the desire to use drugs. I mean, just because I'm on a diet doesn't mean I don't struggle with the desire to eat cake. But I have had to face this part of our journey with faith, believing -- TRULY believing -- that nothing is impossible with God.

Ok, so maybe I'm rambling, but sincerely hoping that some of this is helping. Find me on the message board if you have more questions and feel like you can share more specifics of your situation. It is our family's prayer that what Satan meant for evil is being redeemed for God's greater glory.

I remember feeling very alone in this struggle. It's not that I didn't have friends who cared; it's just that sympathy only goes so far. Plus, I think loneliness is another tactic of the enemy because it's a key step on the road to hopelessness. We've got to have folks reminding us of God's promises so that we don't get sidetracked by the desperateness of our circumstances.

As much as I can, I'm here to whisper God's truth to you today. One verse that I cling to -- then AND now -- is Psalm 27:13 from the NASB: "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Today, my son is alive, and I am seeing that the Lord's goodness looks different that I expected, but oh how good He is!

Reflecting on LCIW Experience

Gatekeeper: July 2012

Earlier this summer, Dr. Rhonda Kelley and I had the privilege of teaching a weeklong workshop for our seminary program at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. As part of the requirements for the course Public Speaking for Women, the ladies had to give several public presentations, including a testimony and a Bible lesson.

One student started a speech referring to the phrase she’s heard tossed around a lot in Christian circles: “doing life together.” She said that this phrase has a different meaning within the fences of LCIW because, indeed, many of the offenders have a life sentence and thus will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Perhaps the challenge is to not take so lightly the privilege we have to walk alongside other women in our different seasons of life. Experienced student wives can welcome new families on campus, remembering what it was like to make a home out of a matchbook-sized apartment. Women students who have been in school a year or two (or more!) can advise incoming students on negotiating classes and traffic and humidity. Even fulltime staff women and faculty wives can step into the lives of women all around us and find points of commonality and encouragement.

Most of us won’t be on campus forever (it’s not a life sentence, ladies, even if it feels like it at times), but we can make the most of the relationships God has made available to us. This week marks 18 years for the Jackson family being back on the NOBTS campus. Lots of life has happened in those years, and much of it made richer because of the women I have done – and am doing – life with. Thanks!

P.S. The photo of Dr. Rhonda and I was taken at the end of Day 4 of our week at LCIW. Needless to say, we were tired!