Let’s say you have an adult son or daughter who is harmfully involved with drugs or alcohol. You want to help so you have paid the rent or other bills, given him money, bailed him out problems or let him move back home.

Sure, he’s promised to make things right, but things don’t get better. Every time your child denies using, provides reasons for the situation or tells you he is going to quit, you believe him and give him another chance. 

The stress on everyone is taking its toll. Your thoughts continue to focus on the state of your family, everyone seems on edge and you can’t remember the last time you had a good night’s sleep. Your energies all go on trying to “fix” the situation.

In an effort to help, friends, family neighbors, keep offering advice. They tell you to stop taking care of him, stop giving him money and to take care of yourself. From your point of view everything would fall apart if you did that. He would end up on the street, in jail or worse. “He just needs to get a break or get past this rough patch” you think.  Besides he said he is going to quit using, and he really means it this time.

This is an incredibly difficult situation, but you are not alone. We know “enabling” is when we do something for someone else that they should and could do for themselves. But, are we not supposed to help out those we love? That’s what families do, right? What if you are the only glue holding what little there is together?

These are hard questions and the answers can be difficult to determine. It can take the guidance and support of others to help sort this out. Al-anon, Families Anonymous and Lost and Found Ministry are all here for YOU. The important things to remember are: don’t do this alone, things can get better, and  there are people out there who can help. Call us today at 218-287-2089 to talk to someone who understands or email us at [email protected].

Not long ago, this was a familiar sight “be kind rewind”. It was a reminder to return the video in the condition we found it and to show consideration to the next guy.  If we happened to get a video that needed rewinding it was another frustration to add to our day. Videos are a thing of the past but perhaps there are other small ways we could care for each other. 

I know an individual who was experiencing much heartache in his life. As he sat at a stoplight feeling alone and afraid, the people in the car next to him honked, smiled and waved. Years later he still remembers how that small act of acknowledgement helped.  That’s the thing; we might never know how even a small gesture could make a big difference in someone’s life.  Here in the upper Midwest we rally in times of need such as the sandbagging that has occurred in the last 2 decades and Sheltering Churches; I’m proud to be a part of that. But I’m suggesting we also bring our caring and kindness down to a daily one on one level. 

Consider what the following might do:  acknowledge the guy who looks down and out with a friendly good morning, hold the door open for the person behind you and wish them a good day, buy the individual in fatigues his sandwich, let the person in when the traffic is heavy , take care of the lost dog while you try to find the owner, etc….. Although we may never know how these acts of thoughtfulness might affect someone, I submit kindness and showing our humanity are never wrong. So in that spirit please consider this a gentle reminder to “be kind rewind”.

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.