Hello All,

it has been quite some time since I have posted a prayer request – but feel the need at this time. It is for our 19 year old son. he seems to be suffering a sort of depression and it is so lengthy to go into history – not sure if I should even attempt to. His latest thing seems to be to keep seeking happiness with “things”. like I must have a new license plate holder for the front of my vehicle, and a couple days later he is telling us that he is looking for a different vehicle. we have become quite exasperated. he is working and so it is not unreasonable for him to have wants and pursue some of those wants – but our concern is how short-lived the happiness is for him in the items he does get. We, of course, know that he needs to grow his relationship with Jesus in order to find true satisfaction – and while he does come to church with us – and even shows up at church if we go to Sunday School and he is still sleeping.

He broke up with a girl he had a relationship with for a year in November and for several months – it seemed to lift a weight off of his shoulders – but I think at this point he is longing for a relationship again and this is part of his issues with trying to find happiness in things. this break up was a good thing and we paid for this in several ways. She was very manipulative, from a broken home with an alcoholic promiscuous mother and a father who had a temper with a restraining order placed on him. we felt very bad for her upbringing and did every thing we could to help her. She started going to church with us and would tell us that we were more family to her than her real family. She had a temper too and when you would try to “parent” her she was very rebellious and would make all kinds of posts on facebook. When I called her on it – she just gritted her teeth while listening to me at which time I went home and told my son – you are on your own – you need to figure out if this is what you want to deal with for the rest of your life – but I will never intervene again unless someone’s physical life is in danger. I was so relieved (and surprised) when several months later – he came to the conclusion – after having to deal with her temper tantrums on his own – that he could no longer deal with her. At any rate – I had to close a credit card due to fraudulent charges a week after their break up, took a verbal beating that I turned him against her and it was my fault. she started dating a guy a day after he broke up with her – even though he had hurt her terribly and was just like every other guy she has ever dated (she was 16 btw). I have to have 2 tires repaired on vehicles – that only I drive. and I am not sure I can even remember some of the stuff that we suspect she may have had a hand in. the night he broke up with her – she left our home- after almost running over his feet when gunning the gas and then ran over the stop sign and street sign at the end of our street and of course used FB to post her frustrations.

He tried to break it off in the least hurtful way possible – but lets face it -it is not going to be pain free no matter what. He seemed quite happy on his own for around 3 months and then kind of got interested in a girl at church. he has invited her two places – declined both times, went to a birthday party he was invited to through the church and gave her a nice card and gift and she is just either clueless or too busy with friends – not sure which. To which I have tried to say – maybe she isn’t the one – stop looking and one of these days God will open the door to the right one – you are young. you don’t need to hurry – but of course – that is easier said than done.

his attitude really is starting to drive us quite bonkers and we are a bit concerned – but he has had such an attitude with me that he had me saying the “D” word with my husband when we got into a discussion last evening because we do not agree on the lack of responsibility in chores and his attitude that our son has been doing in our home for years which lately – he seems to refuse to do – until I specifically request they be done and then I am nagging. What will you do when I move out? It’s not that hard to do – why can’t you do it – which makes me reply – if it is so easy – then why do you have such a hard time doing it yourself – and to be honest – he has about 3 chores a day – that take less than 5 minutes combined and the rule to clean up after yourself. we really don’t expect that much. My husband has a friend who had a son that killed himself – so he thinks our son could if we push him too much – which to me is just enabling bad behavior.

He really is a great kid. He can be very kind and considerate when he is in a good place. But I think he needs help finding that his true source of happiness needs to be Jesus and not things or girlfriends.

so I truly would appreciate the prayers – now that I have rambled on too long.