Sunday, August 30, 2015

Because She Couldn't

“God is always at work for the good of those who love him." ~ Romans 8:28
Adele underestimated the cold tonight; the icy wind was wicking away body heat faster than her small frame could replace it.  Turning back was always an option, but one she quickly rejected.
Three nights a week she volunteered with the homeless at Faith House, named for the Pastor who founded the shelter.  She pushed open the heavy metal door and entered an already crowded room, hot and dank with the stench of body odor.  Adele greeted the ‘residents’ with a warm smile before heading for the serving area. 
She noticed the young woman cowering on the floor; her face in her hands.  The ragged coat she wore was way too thin for this kind of weather.   Martha, a regular at the shelter, was caught in the sickening carousel of social services.  Mental Health wouldn’t help until she recovered from alcoholism; but the alcoholism was inescapably tangled with her mental illness.
“How’re you doing tonight, Martha,” Adele asked in a pleasant voice. 
“Whaat’d you caaare?” Martha answered, her tongue thickened by an earlier binge.  Her verbal abuse was legendary.  She detested herself and anyone who showed her kindness.  When Martha was sure she was alone, she’d often cry for all the love she’d driven away. 
“Always good to see you dear!“ Adele said . . . and honestly meant it.  “I’d best get busy.”
Walking away, Adele flashed back to her childhood, recalling the pain brought on by a mother unable to deal with her own challenges and who resorted to vacancy from a bottle.  It hurt.
It hurt to see a mother "un-well;" to hear her vomiting in the bathroom, to hear slurred speech and crying, to find empty bottles.  If Mom had a bad day at work, a fight with one of her boyfriends at the time, or she was drunk, it usually resulted in Adele getting screamed at, choked, even dragged from bed to be beaten.
Adele was so desperate for her mother’s love that she did everything and anything try and keep her happy and not make waves.  She’d walked on eggshells until that day 7 years ago – the day she’d had enough.
Their relationship ended that day.  But in her mind, Adele had lost her mother many years before that.  There’s no hope for reconciliation – no love, no trust.  She survived – but suffers deeply.
She couldn’t save her Mom from herself.  But then, maybe God helped prepare her for His ministry here.  She can show them that He loves them, that there’s hope, that they have value and they can get back on their feet.  She prays that her dedication to Faith House will help someone someday.
Dear God, thank you for always being near.  We trust You to heal those struggling with addiction and pray that they will be relieved of the pressures that cause them to self-medicate.  Give us strength and patience as You begin work in their lives.  Amen