|
|
|
|
CHRISTIAN
SINGLES
|
CHRISTIAN
DATING ADVICE
CHRISTIAN SINGLES : GUIDE TO
ENDING LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION Cont.
Chapter 10. Formerly Depressed, Lonely Hearts Want To Give You Tips
for Success
When I called Mike to see how he was doing, he was happy to report
that the information I’d given him on healing the damage of old
memories was helping him forgive himself and his father, and he felt
that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Mike’s father was a
very non-demonstrative man, unable to express love or appreciation to
his only child, although he fulfilled the role of provider and was a
good man in other respects. Mike, now 52 years old, lost his mother when
he was eight years old, and a step-mother entered the picture a few
years later. She had a business, keeping her away from home much of the
time, so his father became the primary parent and role model.
Unfortunately, he himself had had a similar relationship with both of
his parents, so Mike never heard words of encouragement or praise.
Instead, his father yelled at him, and even hit him in a fit of rage
whenever Mike did anything that irritated him..
Hoping to get away from it all, Mike left home at 16, and moved to
another state, where he found low-paying jobs and even was homeless from
time to time. He began to drink, but managed to stay away from drugs,
having seen friends die from overdose. All the while, he had very low
self-esteem, and was withdrawn. At age 26 he married and had two sons of
his own He said he truly loved them, but somehow he treated them much
the same as he had been treated, repeating the sins of his father,
although he was never violent with them, thanks to his wife, who tried
to get help for her tormented husband.
Now, in the present, Mike realized he had been depressed since
childhood, and he wanted to make amends with his sons and wife. When I
met him, he was completing a program of psychotherapy, and had
successfully beaten alcoholism through Alcoholics Anonymous, at our
church. I thought he had accomplished a great deal and I asked how he
managed to come so far, so fast. He replied that his secret was a
praying wife! She never gave up on him, saw his good qualities and
prayed for a miracle, and received it. Thankfully, his dear wife acted
as a bridge to his sons, and over time, their relationship is mending
and growing strong. Mike had to be open and honest with them telling
them about his own distant, angry father, and he begged them to forgive
him. Fortunately, he had been prevented from driving his boys away,
mostly due to the moderating and kind influence of their mother.
To continue Christian singles guide to
overcoming depression 
|
