“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
It was a day like no other. The sun rose, the birds chirped, the spring air was filled with the promise of new growth. For Eric however, the day was dark.
He stared with horror into the silent coffin – the final resting place for his youngest son Jared. Dead at age 17 – what tragedy . . . what a waste!
By all accounts, Jared was the ideal teen son - popular, athletic, and smart. But that wasn’t enough.
Eric never saw it coming; he had tried so hard to be a great Dad. He used “missteps” as teaching moments for their boys. When the oldest wrecked the car, Eric made him work overtime to pay for the damage. Missing a curfew never went unpunished. Church attendance was expected while still living under Eric’s roof.
Jared was given a generous allowance, all the popular electronics, and a used car for independence. As parents, they made sure he understood the need to prepare for college.
But his experience with the drug was different than his brother’s – his had become a habit. And unlike his older brother, he experimented with more dangerous drugs seeking an even more powerful high.
What his parents didn’t see coming was methamphetamine, ‘Meth’ or ‘Yaba’ for short. For Jared, it was super intense. He began craving the ‘Yaba’ high, and quickly became addicted. Jared had no idea that this poisonous chemical was slowly sucking life from him. Food, sleep, family relationships or any outside activities were no longer important.
Eric never suspected meth. Clearly something was wrong. Jared’s mood swings were epic, and his growing inability to reason was disturbing. He was rapidly losing weight and admitted thoughts of suicide to a friend.
As his tolerance for the drug grew – so did his hunger for Meth. He became violent, and one day messed with the wrong guy at the wrong time. He had been beaten so badly, Eric could barely identify his son’s remains at the morgue.
Wait!
This isn’t the funeral home or the morgue. Eric was sitting outside the Principal’s office. He had been dreaming - a nightmare. Jared had been in a fight but nobody got hurt. His misbehavior was a wakeup call . . . and a lifesaving event for Jared.
Jared entered a treatment program he desperately needed. He had been out of control, literally killing himself for a high. Yaba gripped him quickly and held on until there is was almost nothing left. Jared was lucky, so far.
My Lord and Savior – you gave us free will - the ability to make choices, even bad ones. Help me to stay strong and positive – that I may overcome any temptations and surround me with people that will help me focus on good things. Thanks for always being on my side! Amen
