Just arrived back home from a trip down to the Zone 6 precinct dropping of packets for distribution. The amount of administration that has to be completed in this situation is truly mind boggling.
You never truly think it is going to happen to you. Sure we've had our issues, we are a blended family with lots of children between us. No family is perfect but I feel that we have made the absolute best out of our family situation. Alecia is one of my bestfriend's and has been for years. We talk for hours on the phone about anything and everything. We celebrate birthdays together, used to celebrate Halloween together until Maddie & Austin wanted to be with their friends. We make decisions together and maintain a united front when it comes to issues with Maddie & Austin. Divorced families are never ideal but we are the best case scenario for one. Which constantly leads me to the question of what went wrong?? I can beat myself up continuously for a myriad of things. Maybe we moved too much. Maybe we gave too much freedom and "stuff". Maybe we've created this nightmare by empowering her too much when we believed we were just making her a stronger, more independent person. The list could go on for days. The statistic is that 1 in 7 children will run away. That is an alarming statistic. With the way my mind works I think to myself that we have 7 children between us so hopefully the statistic is accurate and we never have to experience this again. The more comforting statistic is that 95-98% of runaways do return home. I hold on to that everyday.
My friend Danielle is one of the most comforting and uplifting people I know. Not long ago she sent me this scripture that I have carried in my heart ever since: 1 Peter 5:10 says that "AFTER you've suffered awhile, He'll perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you". I am ready to be perfected, established, strengthened and settled and I pray for this tonight.
Prayer..what an amazing thing to watch unfold even in little ways. We have been blessed by obtaining a P.I. that is not charging us right now. He may have to at some point in the future depending on how long this goes but for now we don't have that additional stress. Out of the blue this evening I was called by an old friend of mine that I haven't spoken to in years. We have communicated via Facebook periodically but tonight of all nights he called to say hello. I believe that God is sending me the people that I need to help carry me through. I received a comment to my first blog from a lady named Becky who also had a runaway daughter. She doesn't know me but took the time to reach out and offer comfort. I am getting phone calls from mother's of children at Maddie's school offering to help with anything and everything they can. I have never seen so much selflishness or felt so much love in all of my life. It is truly amazing.
With these words I will sign off. I feel blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life, whether we've known each other for years or don't know each other at all. Thank you for helping in whatever way through this very difficult time in our lives.
Maddie, I can't wait to see your smile again and smell your hair when I hug you.
Much love,
Maggie
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Maggie,
ReplyDeleteRay and I read your beautiful words of encouragement with tears in our eyes and love in our heart. We know that you are very strong and that both families will come through this trying ordeal stronger, wiser and with a renewed faith in Christ. Life has its setbacks; raising children is one of our biggest challenges and we have faith that Madison will come home soon with a changed heart.
We love you.
Grandparents, Ray & Joy Grimm