For two plus years I gleaned information from a parent support group in conjunction with our son’s out-patient sobriety program. Every Thursday night different topics were discussed among parents. One in particular came up again and again – called The Three C’s – for parents.
- We did not Cause it. -i.e. addiction issues.
- We can not Control it.
- We could not Cure it.
This came up so often because so many of us were riddled with debilitating guilt. Where we had gone wrong, what could possibly be done to correct the situation, and who might we get to fix it? Peace slowly came as we gave the whole issue over to God. Again and again, purposing to allow Him to do what only He could with our child. We learned to “Let Go and Let God”– a favorite Al-Anon saying.
With life as it is right now – caring for my Mom, who seems to be hanging onto life by a thread, and as life has been –my dad passing in February after suffering with Alzheimer’s for 3 plus years… I’ve been thinking a lot about those three C’s.
- No one Caused their illnesses. So when decline happened and aging took over there was never any need for guilt. In this situation, someone had to take charge and neither my mom or dad brought the chaos of needing so much care.
- No one can Control where this is going… but God. I have only to love and serve to the best of my ability (remaining conscious of my own well-being). Comfort and safety are all that are needed at this point – hard as it is to watch.
- No one can Cure death, but Jesus. Who did, Hallelujah! I’m am forever grateful to my parents for planning ahead, not by paying for coffins and funeral plots, but with their firmly placed Hope in The Creator of the universe and His Son Jesus Christ.
There again, I have found peace in letting God have His way with His creation. I can blame Him for everything and thank Him at the same time. He understands my limited understanding, my frustrated circular thinking and the whole role-of-sin regarding sickness and death. I can trust Him, because He loves us wholly and completely. He even provided The Way to Him.
He is the best C, He is The Cure.
ForGlorySake! – Anna
