I have been caught with alcohol, marijuana, and other substances in my house multiple times by parents. They would confiscate it, and I would become more angry. I would just go out and do it again. I didn’t care. My dad came to me at one point and poured out his heart to me. He was almost to the point of tears as he said, “Son, I love you. I’m worried about you; about where you’re going with your life right now.”
I was mad at the world and mad at God so I decided was going to let it all hang out one night. I got severely inebriated. I became sick and probably should have been in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. I passed out on a friend’s couch. I woke up the next morning and realized what I was doing. I got on my face questioning, “Why am I dong this? This is stupid.” I was completely broken. The proverbial light bulb came on and I came to faith in Christ right then, and there. God rained down his Spirit and all of a sudden I understood.
When I returned home from the party my parents met me at the door. Initially, they were pretty upset with me. They knew I had been out partying. I’m sure I probably stilled smelled like a bar. I walked in and hugged my mom. I hugged my dad and said, “Guys, I’m sorry.” I poured myself out the them. I told them I knew I’d messed up bad. I said, “All this time you’ve been trying to lead me in the right direction. I’ve spurned you, and I’v spurned God. I hated you and I hated God because you were trying to lead me in the right direction.”
I had a moment of reconciliation with them and then had to leave for work. My coworkers could tell that something was different. The rumor started going around work, “Mike’s changed.” I spend more time with my parents now than I ever have. I speak to them on the phone at least once a day. I had never been able to get together and hang out with them. Now that happens. That’s really cool.
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