Thursday, September 22, 2011

Grief of a different sort

So now, its been a little over a year since Barry's death and I've had all my "firsts". Except this one: I found out thru a series of events which I won't bore you with, that my middle daughter had been stealing my ATM card, (obviously she found out my pin #) and had been stealing thousands of dollars from my account, bit by bit over the last couple of months. She very effectively hid the bank statements from me because she got the mail and knew I probably wouldn't ask about them since the majority of the fraud was the month I moved to my new place and closed Barry's shop etc. I was a little overwhelmed to say the least and scrutinizing my bank statement was about the last thing on my mind. I had NO clue. None. I did not suspect a thing until a certain event led me to check my account. Its a God thing, is all I can say. So the bottom line is she is not living with me anymore nor will she ever again. I had Amiah (her 2 year old) for a week and my wonderful, amazing friends helped me once again babysitting her (thank you thank you thank you!!) while I was working. When I found out the extent of the fraud I sat down on the floor and cried buckets and buckets of tears. Betrayed. By my own daughter who was obviously on drugs again. And THAT made me cry just as hard. When I asked her why she just cried and said "I don't know". But here's the good thing. I told her that this was the very, very last straw and that if she didn't call Womens Recovery Service (which is a great in-patient program that takes moms and kids) I would send her to jail. I would bring her up on charges and make sure she was prosecuted. I'm still considering it. It depends on a few things and I need to get some good advice regarding this. She entered the rehab on her own and she will be there for 4 months as an in- patient. She admitted her guilt and seemed to want to do better. I'm not putting all my hopes into this, as she has been in re-hab before and relapsed and I was hurt yet again by the theft of some things in my house. But I am praying mightily and have others praying as well that she find a Christian friend in there to help her. Rehab can be a nightmare of viciousness, jealousy, pettiness etc when you throw a bunch of insecure women together. I pray that she find the Lord thru all of this because she cannot do this by herself. Her dad had a problem with alcohol for years but overcame it with help from rehab, AA and his love and dedication to the Lord and his family. Amy needs God's help to pull her through this. So I ask all of you to pray for Amy, for her salvation, for her strength to get through this and to completely change her life. I'm doing okay thru all of this, but I'm not gonna lie, this hurt badly. But I have learned a lot as well. God allowed this to take place for a reason and I will follow His lead. So I continue on in this journey of life by myself. Its not easy, but there are still blessings to be had.

2 comments:

  1. I'm praying for you and your family. We lived the same situation...with one of our sons. He refused treatment...was over eighteen...so we did have him incarcerated...to force him into a rehab program in the prison system. We had to do it twice and it broke our hearts. During the second time...his son was born. Our son is clean and sober now....working full time and being a wonderful father to our grandson. I wish more than anything though ...that we wouldn't of had to press charges....it has been so hard for him to get on with life having a record. He's doing it....but it's been really difficult...and when I see him giving his all plus some....I wish it didn't have to be so rough. He has just started some online college classes. Four years ago I wondered if he'd be alive today. My son was saved...but had gotten away from the Lord...the best thing that has come out of all of this is that he is finding his way back....day by day. You have been through an awful lot....I pray the Lord's strength and peace for you. I'll be praying hard for your daughter's salvation and victory over drugs.

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  2. Emerson said, "A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave 5 minutes longer."

    Dear Jan, you have been brave for so long! Truly, you are a hero of heroes!

    God bless you and continue to be your strength and your shield.

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