(mellow music) 00:00:00.53\00:00:02.60 - Welcome, everyone. 00:00:04.00\00:00:05.33 We're excited to share some Country Wisdom with you. 00:00:05.33\00:00:07.64 - King Solomon had a thing or two to say 00:00:07.64\00:00:09.74 about the path to wisdom. 00:00:09.74\00:00:11.57 In Proverbs 4, he wrote, 00:00:11.57\00:00:13.81 let your eyes look directly forward 00:00:13.81\00:00:16.11 and your gaze be straight before you. 00:00:16.11\00:00:19.21 Keep straight the path of your feet, 00:00:19.21\00:00:21.45 and all your ways will be sure. 00:00:21.45\00:00:23.82 - Join us now for Country Wisdom. 00:00:23.82\00:00:26.15 (mellow music) 00:00:26.15\00:00:28.79 We are in a world of sin. 00:00:46.21\00:00:47.74 We are in a world of sorrow. 00:00:47.74\00:00:49.38 This wasn't God's plan. 00:00:49.38\00:00:50.85 This is not the way it was supposed to turn out 00:00:50.85\00:00:53.42 or the way it was supposed to happen. 00:00:53.42\00:00:56.02 A third of God's family left heaven. 00:00:56.02\00:00:58.32 The God of the universe lost his own children, 00:00:59.52\00:01:02.46 but he's got a plan. 00:01:02.46\00:01:03.83 It is not always going to be this way. 00:01:03.83\00:01:05.39 Matter of fact, I believe it's going to wrap up soon. 00:01:05.39\00:01:08.13 Let me read you a verse. 00:01:08.13\00:01:09.40 Couple of verses actually in Revelation 21. 00:01:09.40\00:01:11.53 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: 00:01:11.53\00:01:13.64 for the first were passed away. 00:01:13.64\00:01:15.90 And verse four, and God shall wipe away all tears 00:01:15.90\00:01:18.47 from their eyes. 00:01:18.47\00:01:19.81 There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, no crying, 00:01:19.81\00:01:22.04 neither shall there be any more pain: 00:01:22.04\00:01:24.58 for the former things are passed away. 00:01:24.58\00:01:27.88 That's what God has in store, 00:01:27.88\00:01:29.25 but in the meantime, we are still down here on this earth, 00:01:29.25\00:01:32.82 and we have a story today that hopefully can help you 00:01:32.82\00:01:35.59 or a family member. 00:01:35.59\00:01:36.62 - Dori, you have a story that 00:01:37.59\00:01:40.63 I'm so thankful that you're willing to share 00:01:40.63\00:01:43.10 because people need to hear it, 00:01:43.10\00:01:44.90 but it's not a story you ever wanted to tell, 00:01:44.90\00:01:48.44 a story that you ever wanted to be put in a position 00:01:48.44\00:01:50.84 of having to tell. 00:01:50.84\00:01:52.64 - No, it wasn't. 00:01:52.64\00:01:54.51 Alright, so I'll just say this. 00:01:56.71\00:02:01.02 I lost my son December 12th of '20. 00:02:01.02\00:02:05.09 So how many? Nine months ago. 00:02:05.09\00:02:07.66 And, but I didn't lose him the day he died. 00:02:08.76\00:02:12.96 I lost him, I was in the process of losing him 00:02:12.96\00:02:16.50 years before that, because. 00:02:16.50\00:02:20.10 - When did that start? 00:02:20.10\00:02:21.27 - When did it start? 00:02:23.17\00:02:24.54 It actually started, it actually probably started 00:02:24.54\00:02:27.74 when his father kind of abandoned his children. 00:02:27.74\00:02:32.08 And he was eight years old. 00:02:33.62\00:02:35.12 And according to all that I've studied, 00:02:35.12\00:02:37.25 eight is a worst time for a boy 00:02:37.25\00:02:39.62 to be abandoned by his father. 00:02:39.62\00:02:41.76 And it just shows you also that broken homes, 00:02:41.76\00:02:44.23 what broken homes do to children. 00:02:44.23\00:02:47.60 So his dad was a pharmacist. I'll just say this. 00:02:47.60\00:02:51.40 And he ended up getting into drugs, 00:02:51.40\00:02:55.04 and he's already passed away. 00:02:55.04\00:02:59.31 He passed away when he was 51, about seven years ago. 00:02:59.31\00:03:02.91 But he ended up, so it broke up our family. 00:03:02.91\00:03:07.98 And then I ended up taking care of the kids myself, 00:03:09.35\00:03:12.42 actually when Christopher was eight, 00:03:12.42\00:03:15.12 and I have two daughters. 00:03:15.12\00:03:16.73 They were four and a one-week-old. 00:03:16.73\00:03:20.00 And I raised them by myself in essence 00:03:21.06\00:03:25.80 with the help of God, and friends, 00:03:26.90\00:03:27.70 and family, and stuff, but. 00:03:27.70\00:03:29.67 - So you have a faith in God. 00:03:29.67\00:03:31.37 - Absolutely have faith in God. 00:03:31.37\00:03:32.87 I've always had a desire to know God. 00:03:32.87\00:03:34.84 I've always had a love for him and a desire to know him 00:03:37.25\00:03:41.52 since I can remember actually. 00:03:41.52\00:03:43.08 But I will say this. 00:03:48.06\00:03:49.99 When all that happened, 00:03:49.99\00:03:51.76 I have to share the story 'cause it's really cool. 00:03:51.76\00:03:54.00 It was, and you can take it out if you need to. 00:03:54.00\00:03:56.90 But when my third baby was born 00:03:56.90\00:04:00.60 it was when I was having a lot of hard times 00:04:00.60\00:04:02.87 with my marriage and everything. 00:04:02.87\00:04:06.24 And he had gone already, 00:04:06.24\00:04:08.78 and it was about a month after she was born. 00:04:08.78\00:04:10.78 It was just me and the kids, 00:04:10.78\00:04:11.88 and I went out on my porch. 00:04:11.88\00:04:14.38 And I had two books. 00:04:14.38\00:04:16.05 I had like a chapter book and I had the Bible, 00:04:16.05\00:04:18.92 and I told God, I read the chapter book. 00:04:18.92\00:04:20.79 I think it was a Mark Finley book actually. 00:04:20.79\00:04:22.56 It was a chapter. 00:04:22.56\00:04:23.83 And as soon as that finished, 00:04:23.83\00:04:25.83 I was gonna open up the Bible and read it, 00:04:25.83\00:04:28.86 but my baby started crying. 00:04:28.86\00:04:30.17 She was only like a month old. 00:04:30.17\00:04:31.27 And I told God, I was like, 00:04:31.27\00:04:32.37 I talked to him in my mind a lot. 00:04:32.37\00:04:34.20 I was like, oh Lord, I was gonna read your word. 00:04:34.20\00:04:37.74 I probably should have read it first, 00:04:37.74\00:04:39.67 but Brianna's crying and I need to tend to her. 00:04:39.67\00:04:42.38 She probably needs to be fed. 00:04:42.38\00:04:44.61 And so I was walking. 00:04:44.61\00:04:46.82 I turned to walk to my sliding glass door, 00:04:46.82\00:04:49.82 and I said, you know what? I am gonna read your word, 00:04:49.82\00:04:51.72 but I'm just gonna hold it out. 00:04:51.72\00:04:52.89 I'm gonna point, 00:04:52.89\00:04:54.22 and whatever my finger lands on, that's what I'm gonna read. 00:04:54.22\00:04:57.13 And it was the book of Malachi. 00:04:57.13\00:05:01.16 And I had never read Malachi. 00:05:01.16\00:05:02.00 And I was like- 00:05:02.00\00:05:03.13 - [Janice] It's not one of the biggies. 00:05:03.13\00:05:03.93 - I was like, I literally said, 00:05:03.93\00:05:05.80 what good can come out of Malachi? 00:05:05.80\00:05:07.20 (Dori laughs) 00:05:07.20\00:05:08.47 And it was Malakai 3:10. 00:05:08.47\00:05:09.50 It was in the Good News Bible. 00:05:09.50\00:05:11.07 And it said, put me to the test and you will see, 00:05:11.07\00:05:12.97 I will open the windows of heaven 00:05:12.97\00:05:14.48 and pour out upon you in abundance all kinds of good 00:05:14.48\00:05:17.65 things. And I just looked up to him and I said, 00:05:17.65\00:05:18.95 you're such a good God. 00:05:18.95\00:05:20.18 So even though I was, it was hard, 00:05:22.82\00:05:25.79 I knew that God was in charge. 00:05:25.79\00:05:28.22 But I thought life would get easier, 00:05:28.22\00:05:30.43 but that was like the, 00:05:30.43\00:05:31.96 that was one of my very first big, big sorrows 00:05:31.96\00:05:37.00 was the breakup of our marriage and stuff, and- 00:05:39.00\00:05:42.90 - But you didn't quit believing in God because of it. 00:05:42.90\00:05:44.67 - I did not quit believing in God. 00:05:44.67\00:05:46.01 I pursued him more. 00:05:46.01\00:05:48.18 And, but then I will tell you, 00:05:48.18\00:05:52.88 my life and my family's have been full of trials, 00:05:52.88\00:05:57.32 full of trials, like one after another, 00:05:57.32\00:06:00.29 after another, after another, after another. 00:06:00.29\00:06:03.12 And they were big, big trials. 00:06:03.12\00:06:05.59 And I was just like, this doesn't feel, 00:06:05.59\00:06:08.46 this doesn't feel good, Lord. 00:06:09.80\00:06:12.03 And I thought that James, when he said, 00:06:12.03\00:06:14.34 count up joy when you face trials of many kinds, 00:06:14.34\00:06:16.91 I was like, he is insane. 00:06:16.91\00:06:19.27 But I realize now that the trials either do two things. 00:06:20.64\00:06:25.21 You either can decide to choose God, 00:06:26.21\00:06:29.15 or you can be bitter. 00:06:29.15\00:06:30.29 And I chose to choose God and to go his route. 00:06:31.39\00:06:34.46 And- 00:06:35.36\00:06:36.73 - When you choose the other, when you choose to be bitter, 00:06:36.73\00:06:38.53 it's not like those trials go away. 00:06:38.53\00:06:40.83 It's just that now you're all, you're bitter and alone. 00:06:40.83\00:06:44.53 - Yeah. 00:06:44.53\00:06:45.87 - Instead of having God, holding his hand through it. 00:06:45.87\00:06:48.90 - Yeah. It was hard. 00:06:48.90\00:06:51.14 I mean, it was like, I mean, 00:06:51.14\00:06:52.51 I thought that was like the worst thing that could happen 00:06:52.51\00:06:54.91 was the breakup of our family, 00:06:54.91\00:06:57.61 but it got harder. 00:06:57.61\00:06:59.91 And so then Christopher, 00:06:59.91\00:07:02.95 because he didn't have a father, 00:07:02.95\00:07:05.29 his father wasn't really in his life then. 00:07:06.32\00:07:08.52 And he had learning disabilities. 00:07:09.56\00:07:10.89 Even though he was brilliant, 00:07:10.89\00:07:12.93 he had learning disability. 00:07:12.93\00:07:14.60 He was diagnosed with bipolar, 00:07:14.60\00:07:17.63 or manic depression, and other things. 00:07:17.63\00:07:20.37 And I'm like, how can you diagnose a teenager with that 00:07:20.37\00:07:23.07 because they're teenagers? 00:07:23.07\00:07:24.57 But yet he was diagnosed with that. 00:07:24.57\00:07:27.38 And I think it's just really hard in this day and age 00:07:28.71\00:07:32.55 that we live, all the media, 00:07:32.55\00:07:34.22 everything that bombards our children, 00:07:34.22\00:07:36.62 it's really hard on them. 00:07:36.62\00:07:38.95 I can't imagine what it's like to be a kid right now. 00:07:38.95\00:07:41.62 - It definitely is worse than it was 10 years ago even. 00:07:41.62\00:07:45.06 - Oh, absolutely. 00:07:45.06\00:07:46.43 And I really think that we need to be praying for them, 00:07:46.43\00:07:49.13 like with such intensity. 00:07:49.13\00:07:51.03 But Christopher ended up being hurt by things. 00:07:52.47\00:07:57.54 I'll just say it that way. He ended up being hurt by things, 00:07:58.94\00:08:00.34 and then he reacted to it by trying to 00:08:00.34\00:08:05.21 do whatever he could to avoid the pain. 00:08:05.21\00:08:08.05 So he started doing pills, anything like Coricidin, pills. 00:08:08.05\00:08:13.12 And then he did things that he didn't want, 00:08:14.22\00:08:19.23 he felt bad about doing. 00:08:19.23\00:08:21.20 And so he was cutting on himself some. 00:08:21.20\00:08:22.86 I remember like calling the ambulance several times 00:08:22.86\00:08:25.20 'cause he was just cutting on himself. 00:08:25.20\00:08:27.50 - It's no secret that the world is in a major mess. 00:08:34.01\00:08:38.15 We are in a major mess. 00:08:38.15\00:08:40.48 Even if you have escaped many of life's difficulties, 00:08:40.48\00:08:43.92 most homes still struggle with daily living. 00:08:43.92\00:08:47.99 So the question arises, 00:08:47.99\00:08:50.23 is there hope for the future, for your future? 00:08:50.23\00:08:54.20 I wanna tell you, there absolutely is hope. 00:08:54.20\00:08:57.97 And that's why I'm asking you to order this free pamphlet. 00:08:57.97\00:09:01.97 Is There Hope for the Future? 00:09:01.97\00:09:04.54 You will be happy you did. 00:09:04.54\00:09:06.94 It will change your life. 00:09:06.94\00:09:08.81 Go to TalkingDonkeyInternational.org 00:09:08.81\00:09:13.11 today and order offer 105. 00:09:13.11\00:09:16.22 Is There Hope for the Future? 00:09:16.22\00:09:18.29 - Scientists tell us that humans have four basic needs 00:09:20.19\00:09:23.73 for survival, food, water, air, and shelter. 00:09:23.73\00:09:28.76 But beyond mere survival, 00:09:29.56\00:09:30.93 we also need to know that someone cares about us. 00:09:30.93\00:09:34.10 And there is someone who cares, someone who is always there. 00:09:34.10\00:09:38.51 This little track, Someone Cares About You, 00:09:39.54\00:09:42.34 is full of Bible verses that will help you know 00:09:42.34\00:09:45.51 just how much God cares for you. 00:09:45.51\00:09:48.55 It's absolutely free. 00:09:48.55\00:09:50.32 Just go to TalkingDonkeyInternational.org 00:09:50.32\00:09:53.72 and request offer number 123. 00:09:53.72\00:09:56.79 Someone cares about you. 00:09:56.79\00:09:58.86 (mellow music) 00:10:00.56\00:10:03.87 - So when he was like 13 years old, 00:10:03.87\00:10:06.87 I even put him in actually Advent Home 00:10:08.17\00:10:10.64 because he was just trying to numb his pain 00:10:10.64\00:10:13.48 however he could. 00:10:13.48\00:10:15.34 And so I, like I said, I just, 00:10:15.34\00:10:20.42 tried to tackle whatever was going on at that time. 00:10:21.78\00:10:24.42 He required a lot of attention, a lot of energy. 00:10:24.42\00:10:27.86 And I focused on him a lot, 00:10:28.86\00:10:30.96 even probably to the demise of my two other children, 00:10:30.96\00:10:36.00 but they've been, they're great. 00:10:36.00\00:10:38.23 And so he ended up, long story short, 00:10:38.23\00:10:42.84 he ended up becoming addicted to opiates, 00:10:42.84\00:10:47.71 and he ended up doing IV stuff, 00:10:47.71\00:10:50.51 and he did things that he would never have done 00:10:50.51\00:10:53.01 in his right mind, or, 00:10:53.01\00:10:55.12 'cause he was a very tender hearted, kind hearted boy. 00:10:55.12\00:10:59.85 He had so many wonderful qualities, 00:10:59.85\00:11:02.66 but addiction, I honestly think it's demon possession. 00:11:02.66\00:11:07.73 I really do because it changes the person 00:11:08.80\00:11:12.00 to who they would not even wanna be. 00:11:12.00\00:11:15.77 And anyways, so I lost him over years, 00:11:15.77\00:11:20.84 and I tried to, I prayed to God like, 00:11:21.94\00:11:24.11 and I said, please don't let him, 00:11:24.11\00:11:26.28 please don't let him become homeless, and hungry, and cold, 00:11:26.28\00:11:29.45 please don't let him go to jail, and be beaten, and raped. 00:11:29.45\00:11:33.19 And then I saw a story on YouTube 00:11:34.39\00:11:37.76 of a girl that went through something horrific. 00:11:37.76\00:11:42.13 I mean her life went from, 00:11:42.13\00:11:44.27 I'll just say, it went from horrible to finding God. 00:11:44.27\00:11:48.07 And God was telling me at that time, 00:11:48.07\00:11:50.07 I was in the bathtub seeking him, 00:11:50.07\00:11:52.64 but I listening, and he was telling me at that time, 00:11:52.64\00:11:57.51 you don't know what Christopher needs to be in my kingdom. 00:11:57.51\00:12:01.82 I do. 00:12:01.82\00:12:02.92 So I let go of him at that moment. 00:12:02.92\00:12:05.09 I said, then do whatever it takes to save him 00:12:05.09\00:12:08.02 for your kingdom. 00:12:08.02\00:12:09.42 This is a blink. 00:12:09.42\00:12:10.86 Life here is a blink. 00:12:10.86\00:12:13.19 Do whatever it takes to save him for your kingdom. 00:12:13.19\00:12:15.73 And that is my prayer. 00:12:16.60\00:12:18.47 Now for my girls, do whatever it takes 00:12:18.47\00:12:20.90 to save them for your kingdom 00:12:20.90\00:12:22.24 because they don't have an addiction, 00:12:22.24\00:12:25.27 but I think all our children, 00:12:25.27\00:12:27.51 we need to like fully submit them to God, 00:12:27.51\00:12:30.08 commit them to God, submit them to God, 00:12:30.08\00:12:32.21 and let him do his work, 00:12:33.01\00:12:35.15 because life here is nothing 00:12:35.15\00:12:38.95 compared to what God wants for us. 00:12:38.95\00:12:41.36 And we can even have a little bit of heaven here on earth, 00:12:41.36\00:12:43.49 just knowing God and his love. 00:12:43.49\00:12:45.69 - You literally loved him enough to let go 00:12:46.80\00:12:49.70 and stop being the mom you thought you ought to be. 00:12:49.70\00:12:52.90 That's right. 00:12:52.90\00:12:54.17 And I didn't even care what people thought. 00:12:54.17\00:12:55.44 The people like, what they think of him or me. 00:12:55.44\00:12:59.94 I know that I prayed for him, 00:12:59.94\00:13:02.84 and I probably had hundreds of people praying for him. 00:13:02.84\00:13:05.81 I interceded for him. 00:13:05.81\00:13:07.78 They interceded for him. 00:13:07.78\00:13:09.45 And I told God, do not, 00:13:09.45\00:13:11.09 please do not take him before he's yours 00:13:11.09\00:13:14.22 or before you've given him every opportunity to be yours. 00:13:14.22\00:13:17.06 And I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God did that. 00:13:17.06\00:13:20.83 God did not take my son before that. 00:13:20.83\00:13:23.90 And I know that God is just and fair, 00:13:23.90\00:13:27.80 and he's the only one that can judge period. 00:13:27.80\00:13:31.17 Nobody can judge anybody 00:13:31.17\00:13:32.61 because we don't know their genetics, 00:13:32.61\00:13:35.48 we don't know their experiences, 00:13:35.48\00:13:37.81 we don't know what happened to them, we don't know. 00:13:37.81\00:13:40.88 We might think we do, but we don't. 00:13:40.88\00:13:42.95 Only God does. 00:13:42.95\00:13:44.25 And he knows the hearts. 00:13:44.25\00:13:45.72 - Through this progression of time, 00:13:45.72\00:13:47.32 what was your relationship like with your son, 00:13:47.32\00:13:50.39 or was there any? 00:13:50.39\00:13:51.53 - Oh, my relationship, he was my first born. 00:13:51.53\00:13:54.46 He was born one day shy of being 14 weeks early. 00:13:54.46\00:13:57.30 He weighed less than two and a half pounds. 00:13:57.30\00:13:59.87 I adored him. 00:13:59.87\00:14:01.44 I loved him to pieces. 00:14:01.44\00:14:03.87 I didn't drink one drop of caffeine. 00:14:03.87\00:14:05.74 I was so careful. 00:14:05.74\00:14:07.11 And he was so funny. 00:14:08.48\00:14:11.81 We, he talked to me more than my two girls together. 00:14:11.81\00:14:14.88 He told me things I didn't even wanna hear. 00:14:14.88\00:14:17.72 But as the addiction increased, 00:14:17.72\00:14:21.46 the relationship became less close, 00:14:21.46\00:14:26.53 because he ended up stealing, and taking my checkbook, 00:14:27.83\00:14:30.97 and just stuff that he wouldn't do. 00:14:30.97\00:14:33.60 And, but, and we would argue because he's strong-willed, 00:14:33.60\00:14:36.50 and I guess I'm pretty strong-willed too maybe. 00:14:36.50\00:14:38.84 - Maybe. (Jim laughs) 00:14:38.84\00:14:40.18 - And so we would argue and yell at each other even, 00:14:40.18\00:14:44.65 but then we would like always apologize. 00:14:45.71\00:14:48.72 I always just remember always apologizing. 00:14:48.72\00:14:51.65 And he was like so good about apologizing too. 00:14:51.65\00:14:55.42 So he was a terrific kid other than that addiction part. 00:14:55.42\00:15:00.53 He was an awesome kid. 00:15:01.16\00:15:02.63 I miss him. 00:15:06.03\00:15:06.94 I miss him. 00:15:08.30\00:15:09.20 - It's still pretty raw. 00:15:10.37\00:15:11.74 - Yeah. 00:15:11.74\00:15:12.84 And it's actually, 00:15:12.84\00:15:13.81 I find that it's actually harder right now. 00:15:15.08\00:15:17.51 I think because God, in his love and kindness knew 00:15:17.51\00:15:22.42 that for me to deal with his death, 00:15:22.42\00:15:24.92 I just, all I could see was like 00:15:28.02\00:15:29.96 so much of the things that he did so hurtful. 00:15:29.96\00:15:32.86 I know that Christopher is no longer suffering. 00:15:34.00\00:15:35.86 He's no longer in pain, 00:15:35.86\00:15:36.97 and he's no longer able to hurt anybody else. 00:15:36.97\00:15:41.70 And I think addiction, especially drug addiction, 00:15:41.70\00:15:46.14 makes people do things that they would not normally do 00:15:46.14\00:15:48.98 because it costs money. 00:15:48.98\00:15:50.98 It costs a lot of money. 00:15:50.98\00:15:52.48 And so he's no longer suffering, 00:15:52.48\00:15:55.88 and he's not hurting anyone else. 00:15:55.88\00:15:57.85 And that gives me comfort too. 00:15:57.85\00:15:59.55 - If you don't mind, 00:16:00.82\00:16:02.22 could you kinda lead us on to where and when, what happened? 00:16:02.22\00:16:06.73 - In this- 00:16:07.40\00:16:08.50 - A year ago, where were the two of you? 00:16:08.50\00:16:09.93 - So he was in and out of jail, 00:16:09.93\00:16:12.73 and I thought the first time he went in jail 00:16:12.73\00:16:15.67 that would scare him, and he would never wanna go, 00:16:15.67\00:16:17.54 but he was so gregarious. 00:16:17.54\00:16:20.38 He made friends wherever he went. 00:16:20.38\00:16:22.14 And he was quite smart too. 00:16:22.14\00:16:23.48 So he knew, and you can get drugs in jail, 00:16:23.48\00:16:27.32 I mean, just as easily or maybe even easier than, 00:16:27.32\00:16:30.95 I mean, where he was at. 00:16:30.95\00:16:32.15 I mean, it was so easy to get. 00:16:32.15\00:16:33.86 - How did you know all of that? 00:16:35.46\00:16:36.62 Did he share that with you? - He told me. 00:16:36.62\00:16:38.23 - He told you, okay. 00:16:38.23\00:16:39.06 - He told me. 00:16:39.06\00:16:40.40 - So he's breaking your heart more at the same time 00:16:40.40\00:16:41.83 as he's sharing with mom. 00:16:41.83\00:16:43.67 - Well, he's telling me, 00:16:43.67\00:16:44.77 which I love that he could tell me things. 00:16:44.77\00:16:47.80 I love that part because he felt close enough 00:16:47.80\00:16:49.94 to be able to tell me. 00:16:49.94\00:16:51.51 And I love that. I miss that tremendously. 00:16:51.51\00:16:55.11 But of course I was like, it hurt me that he was 00:16:55.11\00:16:59.78 doing things that harmed him and harmed others. 00:17:00.95\00:17:03.52 But so he ended up being in and out of jail. 00:17:04.75\00:17:09.72 And then he ended up coming home, 00:17:09.72\00:17:14.76 and I actually moved away for a short time. 00:17:16.26\00:17:18.50 So I was living where he was living, 00:17:18.50\00:17:20.50 which was his grandma's house. 00:17:20.50\00:17:22.84 And I was able to spend the last week and half with him. 00:17:22.84\00:17:27.34 And I feel honored to do that, 00:17:27.34\00:17:30.31 and I even left a job, 00:17:30.31\00:17:31.71 and I'm pretty sure I was there for only one month, 00:17:31.71\00:17:33.88 and I'm pretty sure that the reason why, 00:17:33.88\00:17:36.85 'cause I was like, why? 00:17:36.85\00:17:37.65 'Cause I felt like God called me 00:17:37.65\00:17:38.79 to this place in North Carolina. 00:17:38.79\00:17:40.89 And I'm like, why? Why am I back here? 00:17:40.89\00:17:42.79 I think it was just for this one week with Chris, 00:17:42.79\00:17:45.63 and this was one of the reasons. 00:17:45.63\00:17:47.60 And so I was able to pray. 00:17:47.60\00:17:50.80 I prayed with them during that week and half twice. 00:17:50.80\00:17:53.97 And I asked him, I said, Christopher. 00:17:53.97\00:17:56.44 I said, I don't even know, 00:17:56.44\00:17:57.94 because his girlfriend had a ouija board 00:17:57.94\00:18:00.14 and stuff like that. 00:18:00.14\00:18:01.48 And I said, I don't even know if you believe in God. 00:18:01.48\00:18:04.51 And he looked straight at me and he said, 00:18:04.51\00:18:07.02 of course I do, Mom. 00:18:07.02\00:18:08.05 You're you're my mother. You raised me. 00:18:08.05\00:18:11.19 And so that gave me some hope. 00:18:11.19\00:18:13.76 And then there was a time, I think it was a Tuesday. 00:18:13.76\00:18:16.49 They found him on a Saturday, on a Sabbath. 00:18:17.56\00:18:20.40 But the Tuesday before, 00:18:21.46\00:18:24.00 I remember going, his room was open. 00:18:24.00\00:18:27.10 The TV was blaring, 00:18:27.10\00:18:28.34 and I went into his room. 00:18:28.34\00:18:30.37 I turned off the TV, 00:18:30.37\00:18:32.47 and I just felt impressed to like pray over Christopher. 00:18:32.47\00:18:37.31 I just got on my knees, and I rebuked Satan, 00:18:37.31\00:18:40.72 and told him he had no rights to my kids. 00:18:40.72\00:18:43.69 He was dedicated to God as a child. 00:18:43.69\00:18:47.46 He was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:18:47.46\00:18:50.46 And then I asked God to make himself known to him. 00:18:50.46\00:18:53.23 And I know he did. 00:18:54.20\00:18:56.67 And then what happened was we found out that, 00:18:56.67\00:19:01.74 I got a call. 00:19:04.21\00:19:05.57 I was at my daughter's house spending the night there, 00:19:05.57\00:19:09.31 and we got a call from their grandmother 00:19:09.31\00:19:13.92 where I was staying at. 00:19:13.92\00:19:15.02 And she said the police were there. 00:19:15.02\00:19:16.95 And I knew that wasn't good news. 00:19:18.05\00:19:19.55 And so I rushed over there, 00:19:20.36\00:19:25.46 and I remember it's only like five minutes away or so, 00:19:26.76\00:19:30.27 but I remember driving like a maniac, 00:19:30.27\00:19:33.10 and I was like, Lord, I know that this is not good news. 00:19:33.10\00:19:36.60 And I think that she had told me that he was dead. 00:19:36.60\00:19:39.71 She's like, Chris is dead. 00:19:39.71\00:19:41.14 And I'm like, I know he's dead, 00:19:41.14\00:19:43.55 but I'm gonna intercede for him one more time. 00:19:43.55\00:19:46.55 Be with my child and do whatever. 00:19:46.55\00:19:49.55 I'm just gonna intercede. 00:19:49.55\00:19:50.65 I don't even know if that's possible, 00:19:50.65\00:19:53.49 but just save my son. 00:19:53.49\00:19:56.22 And so then when we got there, 00:19:56.22\00:19:58.99 there were two policemen there, 00:19:58.99\00:20:01.00 and they told us that he had gone to a narcotic party 00:20:01.00\00:20:06.07 in a hotel and paranoia ensued, 00:20:10.67\00:20:15.18 and somebody shot him in the head. 00:20:15.18\00:20:16.95 And God has given me forgiveness. 00:20:18.31\00:20:23.39 I'm not, I don't hate the guy that killed him, 00:20:30.76\00:20:35.80 which is amazing. 00:20:36.56\00:20:38.30 And I had a little problem with his girlfriend 00:20:38.30\00:20:43.27 'cause she introduced him to it, 00:20:44.17\00:20:45.71 but I try to pray for her now. 00:20:45.71\00:20:48.38 And God just has given me peace 00:20:49.41\00:20:54.18 that he's a good God, even though I have sorrow. 00:20:55.62\00:20:57.72 And I know that it's God's kingdom, right? 00:20:57.72\00:20:59.82 He gets to choose who live there anyways. 00:20:59.82\00:21:01.52 (Dori laughs) 00:21:01.52\00:21:02.86 So I'm like, you have full whatever. 00:21:02.86\00:21:07.03 And so I just want people to know that you can have peace 00:21:07.03\00:21:12.10 even though you have sadness, 00:21:12.90\00:21:13.97 and that I know what it's like to be a mother 00:21:13.97\00:21:17.81 of the child that has addiction, 00:21:17.81\00:21:19.91 and that it's a very, very, very hard place to be, 00:21:19.91\00:21:24.61 extremely. 00:21:24.61\00:21:25.55 - You're not alone, as we all know. 00:21:26.61\00:21:28.98 - No. 00:21:28.98\00:21:30.25 - It is so common nowadays, so much more common. 00:21:30.25\00:21:33.02 It's incredible that in a situation like this, 00:21:33.02\00:21:36.99 having such issues with your son, watching him, 00:21:36.99\00:21:40.96 as you said, you began to lose him when he was 13, 00:21:40.96\00:21:43.67 and to lose him in little bits all along, 00:21:44.83\00:21:47.50 and then completely lose him, 00:21:47.50\00:21:49.74 and sit here not even a year later and say, 00:21:49.74\00:21:52.84 even in spite of all the sorrow, you have peace. 00:21:54.08\00:21:58.18 - I do. 00:21:58.18\00:21:59.41 - That's difficult to understand. 00:21:59.41\00:22:00.55 - It's only from God. 00:22:00.55\00:22:02.18 It's truly only from God, 00:22:02.18\00:22:03.92 in the fact that I'm not bitter 00:22:03.92\00:22:05.49 to the person that killed him. 00:22:05.49\00:22:07.39 That is only from God. 00:22:07.39\00:22:08.82 I don't know how, I mean, I don't see how. 00:22:08.82\00:22:13.19 It has to be from God. 00:22:13.19\00:22:15.03 - Have you seen that person since? 00:22:15.03\00:22:17.23 - I mean, I've seen pictures of him, 00:22:18.30\00:22:21.00 but he's in jail, but no. 00:22:21.00\00:22:23.17 - And how old is your son? 00:22:24.71\00:22:26.47 - He was 29. 00:22:26.47\00:22:27.31 - 29. 00:22:27.31\00:22:28.84 So from 13 to 29, a lot of years of struggle, 00:22:28.84\00:22:33.18 and a lot of years of heartache. 00:22:33.18\00:22:34.85 When you first came, 00:22:36.12\00:22:37.75 and you and I were talking before we sat down, 00:22:37.75\00:22:40.52 you said you just wanted people to know, 00:22:40.52\00:22:43.02 and you listed a whole bunch of things. 00:22:43.02\00:22:45.19 You've got a heart that wants to help others. 00:22:46.29\00:22:47.83 Do you mind just sharing some of those things with us? 00:22:47.83\00:22:50.40 - Yeah, I want people to know that there is a God in heaven 00:22:50.40\00:22:54.54 that loves them dearly, knows everything about them, 00:22:54.54\00:22:58.41 and just like a parent, like I loved. 00:22:58.41\00:23:00.81 Christopher taught me that, 00:23:00.81\00:23:02.51 that the things that he did, 00:23:02.51\00:23:04.35 there wasn't something he did that I thought, 00:23:06.31\00:23:08.32 I don't know if I can, like, 00:23:08.32\00:23:09.78 I don't know if I can love him. 00:23:10.69\00:23:12.42 And I loved him no matter what. 00:23:12.42\00:23:15.39 I loved him with such intensity. 00:23:15.39\00:23:17.93 And I know that God loves us more, 00:23:17.93\00:23:21.06 and he loves every person that's listening today. 00:23:21.06\00:23:23.77 He is like, he loves them so much. 00:23:23.77\00:23:26.70 He loves, I wanna say he loves you so much. 00:23:26.70\00:23:30.64 And he wants to know you, 00:23:30.64\00:23:32.61 and he doesn't wanna live without you. 00:23:32.61\00:23:36.78 And if we just would, if we would just seek him, 00:23:36.78\00:23:40.85 and all you have to do is repent 00:23:40.85\00:23:42.65 and say, I'm sorry for my sins. 00:23:42.65\00:23:45.22 I don't, I choose you. 00:23:45.22\00:23:46.76 That's what I tell him everyday. 00:23:46.76\00:23:47.99 I'm like, I'm not perfect. 00:23:47.99\00:23:50.03 I have my flaws, 00:23:50.03\00:23:51.03 but I'm like, I choose you. 00:23:51.03\00:23:52.93 I want you in my life. 00:23:52.93\00:23:55.50 I want your spirit. 00:23:55.50\00:23:56.97 But I'm a leopard. I can't change myself. 00:23:56.97\00:23:59.37 You're gonna have to change me 00:23:59.37\00:24:01.04 because I desire things that are not good, 00:24:01.04\00:24:04.04 but I don't want to. 00:24:04.04\00:24:05.24 I want to do your will. 00:24:05.24\00:24:06.68 I want to be bold for you. 00:24:06.68\00:24:08.54 I want to, I want to, 00:24:08.54\00:24:11.58 I want everyone to know that you love them. 00:24:11.58\00:24:14.28 And I, that's what I want. 00:24:15.18\00:24:17.12 I want everyone to know that they are deeply, deeply loved 00:24:17.12\00:24:19.72 by a God who is bigger than anything, 00:24:19.72\00:24:23.32 and that he is coming soon. 00:24:23.32\00:24:25.93 He is coming really, really soon. 00:24:25.93\00:24:29.16 I believe with all my heart that we will see him come. 00:24:29.16\00:24:32.43 - Counsel for moms and dads, anything special for them? 00:24:34.20\00:24:38.31 I mean, some are probably going through 00:24:38.31\00:24:40.41 what you are right now. 00:24:40.41\00:24:42.21 Others, maybe are getting close. 00:24:42.21\00:24:43.85 What would you say? 00:24:43.85\00:24:45.45 - I would say, get on your knees and pray, 00:24:45.45\00:24:48.12 'cause this battle is not against flesh and blood, 00:24:48.12\00:24:51.15 but against principalities and things of darkness. 00:24:51.15\00:24:53.79 This is a spiritual battle. 00:24:54.79\00:24:57.03 You're more powerful on your knees than anything else. 00:24:57.03\00:24:59.86 But I would also say, catch it early on. 00:24:59.86\00:25:03.90 When you catch it early on, 00:25:03.90\00:25:05.80 I don't know. 00:25:09.24\00:25:10.57 'Cause I think do the tough love thing early on, 00:25:10.57\00:25:12.57 but I'm not positive. 00:25:12.57\00:25:13.68 I don't know. It's so hard to know because I- 00:25:13.68\00:25:17.65 - Even as I started out, even God the Father 00:25:17.65\00:25:20.28 couldn't totally stop some of the children 00:25:20.28\00:25:23.02 from leaving the glories of heaven and his side. 00:25:23.02\00:25:25.79 - And that's when I realized that I was kind of playing God 00:25:25.79\00:25:29.42 with Christopher, 00:25:29.42\00:25:30.76 because I was like thinking that 00:25:30.76\00:25:34.10 I could persuade him to come back. 00:25:34.10\00:25:35.73 And I was like, God is perfect, 00:25:35.73\00:25:37.60 and then Satan chose to leave. 00:25:37.60\00:25:39.33 So, but I would say the most powerful thing, 00:25:40.40\00:25:45.34 the most, is get on your knees and pray. 00:25:46.47\00:25:48.54 I believe that it allows God, 00:25:48.54\00:25:51.11 because God's such a gentleman, I think of Satan as mafia. 00:25:51.11\00:25:54.92 And he's gonna kick you when you're down, 00:25:54.92\00:25:56.62 and hit you, and kick you, and punch you, and everything. 00:25:56.62\00:25:59.22 And I think of God as a perfect gentleman. 00:25:59.22\00:26:00.82 He's just at the door knocking. 00:26:00.82\00:26:02.96 Just let me in. 00:26:02.96\00:26:04.36 And so you come to him and like, I'm letting you in. 00:26:04.36\00:26:06.13 Now he tells his angels, go sick 'em. 00:26:06.13\00:26:08.23 That's exactly how I see it. 00:26:08.23\00:26:10.23 It gives God permission to do in the spiritual realm, 00:26:10.23\00:26:14.97 what needs to be done. 00:26:14.97\00:26:16.77 - Dori, we just can't thank you enough for coming today 00:26:18.17\00:26:20.88 and the courage to share. 00:26:20.88\00:26:21.91 - Being willing to tell a story like that, 00:26:21.91\00:26:23.88 because there are other hurting parents out there 00:26:23.88\00:26:27.22 who maybe haven't lost their child yet, 00:26:27.22\00:26:30.05 but feel like, in many ways, they have. 00:26:30.05\00:26:32.82 And to throw out that little lifeline of hope 00:26:33.92\00:26:36.73 and remind them that God loves their child 00:26:36.73\00:26:40.10 more than they do. 00:26:40.10\00:26:41.06 - Absolutely. 00:26:41.06\00:26:41.86 - So thank you for coming today. 00:26:41.86\00:26:43.53 Appreciate it a lot. 00:26:43.53\00:26:44.63 - Thank you for having me and letting me share. 00:26:44.63\00:26:46.97 I appreciate it. 00:26:46.97\00:26:49.07 (mellow music) 00:26:49.07\00:26:51.74 - Scientists tell us that humans have four basic needs 00:27:02.58\00:27:06.12 for survival, food, water, air, and shelter. 00:27:06.12\00:27:11.19 But beyond mere survival, 00:27:11.99\00:27:13.36 we also need to know that someone cares about us. 00:27:13.36\00:27:16.50 And there is someone who cares, someone who is always there. 00:27:16.50\00:27:20.87 This little track, Someone Cares About You, 00:27:21.90\00:27:24.74 is full of Bible verses that will help you know 00:27:24.74\00:27:27.91 just how much God cares for you. 00:27:27.91\00:27:30.95 It's absolutely free. 00:27:30.95\00:27:32.71 Just go to TalkingDonkeyInternational.org 00:27:32.71\00:27:36.12 and request offer number 123. 00:27:36.12\00:27:39.19 Someone Cares About You. 00:27:39.19\00:27:41.36 - Thank you for watching. 00:27:48.16\00:27:49.53 Join us again for another exciting Country Wisdom. 00:27:49.53\00:27:51.37 - See you next time. 00:27:51.37\00:27:52.70 (mellow music) 00:27:52.70\00:27:55.34