The Child with the Loaded Gun And Death Came Knocking

The Child with the Loaded Gun

Recently, some loved ones experienced the bouts with substance abuse; so, for the record, I need to share this. 

During my professional career, I encountered a family.  In that family, the parents had substance abuse issues.  In a horrid death, one parent, of many children, was found to have overdosed, half naked, with bodily fluids running.  

The death was not the only death.  One of her children, within a year, committed suicide, partly because of the death of parent. Could the death of the parent provide the facilitation of the suicide of the child?  The answer is yes; and two lives were lost.  One of the parent at a young age, and one of the child in the teens. 

The child was a role model, excelling in many things like ROTC, and the siblings were featured in community newspapers for their turn-around from troubled children. 

A teen gone, a parent gone.  I say this for this reason, do not open the door to the death of your child by partaking in substance abuse.  Your child may follow your actions if you end up dead.  Providing support for your child cannot be done from the grave.  Death by example is not the way a child should die.  Therefore, consider your choice.  You play Russian Roulette with your life, and, say, I won’t OD, I won’t die; but if you do, and your child decides to follow your path, remember the legacy that will be left behind.  And, the devastation to surviving children, and the devastation to surviving loved ones, and grief.  Not all people HEAL from the death of a loved one the same way, and, some transition to the other life with that injury/grief. 

Consider this, not only is the death traumatic, but the memories are too.  The memories of years without a parent present.  That was my legacy.  Substance abuse conquered my dad.  Years of memories of an absent parent are there.  Then, as I grew older, I had to care for that “Dad” that was not “There”.  It was hard, but the Christian thing to do.  But the pain resides each and everyday. That pain is what keeps me motivated to provide as much as I can and be there as much as I can for my children. 

I ask and dedicate this to a loved one.  Please stop the substance abuse.  Would you be okay with our child dying too?  Your children are blessed to have you and look to you for support.  But, DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD A LOADED GUN, A REASON TO DIE, IF YOU WERE TO DIE. Please, this is my prayer and request, ask God to help you kick that habit, and be there for your children.