Happy Graduation
Day, Austin!
A ll-around great
guy!
U ltimate
grandson
S o entertaining and
funny
T houghtful and considerate
I nteresting, handsome and a
winner
N o one like
him
Austin, our lives
were forever changed when you came in to our world. You are a world-changer and have been that long
before the phrase, “world-changer” became common. You were called from the womb with a great
calling and many gifts from our Lord, Jesus Christ. There was prophecy given
about you preaching and being mighty and powerful and we are very excited to see
in what way the Lord will bring that about. We all know that every day our lives
are the only Bible that some people will read. Yours is a beautiful one with
pages that will be filled with a great story of love and a life well lived. We
are proud of you, grandson.
And also an editorial for a friend in memory of his son:
Each
year I try to get this editorial in the local paper and fail. But because I read
a Facebook post from a mother whose son overdosed and was left in a ditch to
die, I once again will try to get these thoughts out to our communities. The key
part being this, if you don't have time to read the whole editorial: "Grads
if something tragic has happened, you friend may have overdosed, don’t leave
your friend alone; call 911. Please spare one more parent a broken
heart.
Parents please talk to your children especially with Graduation Day
approaching."
You
are welcome to share this but please leave my contact info with
it:)
Graduation
Night,
Tonight
a Parent’s Heart May be Broken
“I’m
the father of a dead child,” is how the brokenhearted man introduced himself at
the local Substance Abuse Task Force meeting.
I
am always struck by the pain of the parents that have lost children to the
disease of addictions. In this case it was not an addiction problem but kids
celebrating their graduation.
Many
of us realize and try to prepare ourselves for the possibility of loss in our
families, with recreational pills so prevalent in the younger generation. The
statistics show that 8 people die a day in the State of Florida. With the
national average being 50 a day, we need to acknowledge we have a problem here,
people, and educate our families and ourselves. But common things in your home
such as Pam, Nyquil and aerosol whipping cream can also be a source of misuse.
Prayer
is a real and valid tool and a powerful force in the war against addictions. We
always need to include prayers for families affected by addictions of all kinds.
We can’t just ignore the problems in our society and hope they will go away.
One of the best resources I’ve found is
Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education (NOPE) Task Force. They are a
group of community leaders and parents working to save lives by engaging young
people in efforts to end drug abuse.
I
met the father who introduced himself that way after the meeting. Although it
had been nearly a year since his son died, it was evident he was still grieving.
I didn't want him to leave that meeting thinking that his son's death was in
vain. I knew it was hard for him to make the effort to come to the Task Force
but I was so glad he came. The only comfort I could give was to say I would pray
for him and give him a hug, "I know when your son woke up that morning he didn't
think or plan,‘Tonight I will break my father's heart.’” Although that was what happened it was a
horrible accident; kids using pills or drugs, one time too many. Young people
are not thinking when they use recreational drugs; they are just doing it to fit
in with their friends.
Graduation
night is party night for many young adults. There are Pharma Parties, where
people are dared to go through their parent’s medicine cabinets, bring in
whatever pills they can get their hands on and put them in a big bowl to share.
They pass the bowl around and the interaction of several pills that are not
supposed to be taken together is a deadly gamble; a Russian Roulette.
I
wrote this editorial in memory of Morgan
Andrew Denney,
that perhaps his death be not in vain, but will help save someone else’s child.
I
am trying in my own small way to get the word out, "One time may be one time too
many."
Grads
if something tragic has happened, Your friend may have overdosed, don’t leave
your friend alone; call 911. Please spare one more parent a broken
heart.
Parents please talk to your children especially with Graduation Day
approaching.
“Upon
thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen all the day, and all the
night, they shall never hold their peace. You that are mindful of the Lord, hold
not your peace, (Isaiah 62:6 Douay-Rheims
Bible)
Graduation
Day was made for celebration not death.
Donna
Collins Tinsley
Somebody's
Mother Online Prayer Support Group
