Dysfunctional & Disappointing
Me with My Children
This is a unique (unfortunately) photo taken on Mother’s Day 2002. Lance went to work with/for his dad and was promised the business, a large boat company, would eventually be his. However, it didn’t go so well and after Lance and his wife had three children, his dad let him go. No severance, nothing. It literally tore our family apart. To protect their privacy, I will not go into detail here. Suffice it to say relationships were broken beyond repair.
I do not have any more photos of all of us together and probably never will. It breaks my heart.
Some prayers, especially those that are for another person’s actions, just don’t get answered.
There was an experience, though, that let me know again a Presence hears my cries. Notice I do not give God a gender. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” John 4:24 NIV.
I was in a hotel while visiting Damon who was having a personal crisis. His dad had not shown up again and I was terribly frustrated by it. As I was about to climb into bed I prayed, “God, I can’t spend the rest of my life with these feelings about (his dad and his wife).” It was definitely a Prayer of Relinquishment.* What popped into my mind is nothing short of a message from a Higher Power.
“Children of the Lie by Scott Peck. Page 17.” I thought – strange – if this is a serious message, it will be there tomorrow and I went to bed. It is important that I mention here-absolutely nothing had occurred to bring that title to my mind. Nothing.
The next morning, the first thought was Children of the Lie by Scott Peck. I ate breakfast and went down the street to Barnes & Noble. At the information desk I told the attendant what I wanted. She couldn’t find it in their computer. At just that moment a woman came to stand beside me and said, “I know that book, but it’s called People of the Lie and the author is M. Scott Peck. She was correct. The attendant found it in her computer and said, “We only have one copy. I will find it for you.” We went to the back shelf of books. She looked and looked. Finally I thought well I can look. And there it was.
I thanked the stranger for showing up at just that moment.
I bought the book and went to the corner where there was a chair. And, of course, I opened it to page 17. The message came loud and clear as I read how some people behave, even things they say. It has taken years for me to have a clearer understanding and it has made a huge difference in my life. There are people without empathy, and sadly they do not experience joy either. They are not to be scorned but pitied.
Call this experience synchronicity or answered prayer?
*Adventures in Prayer by Catherine Marshall
I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon. My Website.
gailshowalterblog.com 