Opinion

From Bondage to Freedom

Posted

Most families have unpleasant things happen to them at some point in life. A family’s race, religion, or financial status makes no difference, and tragedies come along when least expected.

Mostly I share about the brighter side of life, but it is not to say I haven't experienced my share of tragedy in my own family. Such was the case in the mid-1960s when my mother began a downward spiral in her life, which, of course, affected our entire family. 

My mother was one of the most generous and loving women, I have ever known. I do not remember what kind of perfume she wore, but anyone who knew her recognized and commented on the delicate fragrance that radiated all around her. Everyone that met her loved her. Even though she had many acquaintances, she was not able to cultivate many close friendships because she worked long hours daily and seldom got to take days off from our store. As the years passed and she found herself as an empty nester, she became incredibly lonely. A few years later, she developed rheumatoid arthritis. She began to sneak a drink to dull her pain, both emotionally and physically. As with many people that drink, soon one drink is not enough, and alcohol became her obsession.

In February of 1977, my father called and said he no longer knew what to do with her, and he was sending her to stay with me to see if I could help. Whenever she drank too much, I was always embarrassed. However, I knew it was vital for her to feel love when she arrived, not criticism. Before leaving for the airport, I prayed and explained to the Lord that I was not able to love her when she drank, but I knew He was inside me, and He loved her. So I released Him to love her through me.

When Dad put her on the plane in Arizona, she was sober. However, drinks were free on the flight, so when she arrived in Houston four hours later, the flight attendant had to call for a wheelchair to deplane her because she was too intoxicated to walk. As they rolled her down the corridor, her condition was apparent. To my surprise, all I felt was an abundant amount of love for her and no embarrassment whatsoever!

When she arrived, she had already determined to quit drinking while she was at my home. About the second day, I witnessed something I had never seen or heard of before. Every muscle in her body went into a sort of shock and she was jerking so badly that she could not hold a glass or eat. She could barely walk and her gait was only a shuffle. I was worried but knew the Lord was in control.

I took her to a Wednesday night home bible study to have them pray for her. The meeting lingered, and I could see her fading. At the end of the study, the leader asked if anyone needed prayer. My mom slightly lifted her hand and in a voice barely above a whisper said, “I could use a little one.” They prayed, but nothing happened and I was very disappointed. We served a meal afterward, and I couldn’t wait to get out of the living room to help organize in the kitchen. I was busy making the necessary preparations when suddenly a friend grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back into the living room. Mom was seated in a chair and several people were standing around her praying. Then I heard her praying the prayer of salvation. As they continued to pray for her, they took authority over arthritis. The pastor then asked her to stand up and raise her arms. As she began lifting her arms, they moved up in a jerky motion at first, and then they moved freely. Then she was instructed to lift her legs up and down. I thought she was in pain because of the difficulty of her mobility. I witnessed the swelling in her feet go down quickly, like releasing air from a balloon. Then she asked them if she could run. She began running back and forth down the hallway. This was the first time I had witnessed such a creative miracle!

I will always cherish the time I spent with my mother that week she stayed with me. She was totally pain-free and sober when my father flew out to pick her up and take her home. The stronghold of alcohol was broken off completely and she lived the rest of her life free from the bondage of alcohol.

We have no control over the things others choose to do with their lives. But we do have control in the way we respond to them. If you have a relationship with Him and yield your will to Him, NOTHING is impossible for the God who created the earth and all that exists.