Over the last several weeks, my mind has been mulling over the words "Do Hard Things" (taken from the title of a book about to be released, challenging America's low expectations of today's teenagers, written by Josh Harris' twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris). While my own hard things have nothing to do with low expectations of teens, I believe it has everything to do with the "hard" decisions I find myself making as a adult.
Over the course of the past several months since my step-father's stroke in June, 2007, his mental and emotional states have deteriorated to a level where he has become a danger to my mother. Several altercations have occurred and have been reported to his physician which have been ignored or disregarded. While on the one hand, I know that my step-father loves my mother and has loved her since they've known each other in first grade, but yet, since the stroke, he has changed inside emotionally and mentally. While I don't know believe he knows what he is doing because of the stroke and possibly due to the many prescription medications, I also have to consider my mother's safety, as she is his primary caregiver (I live almost 2 hours away and have no other siblings) and is elderly herself.
Unfortunately, I have to do the "hard thing" by making the decision to report him to the State of Texas Family & Protective Services for the adult abuse he has inflicted upon my mother, not out of revenge or anger, but for both his continued health and safety and my mother's.
Additionally, my mother has been researching a rehabilitation center in Dallas for him.
While one cannot avoid strokes or hard decisions, you CAN make every opportunity to take advantage of the time you have with your parents, your grandparents and other relatives. When you are with them, take lots of pictures. Talk with them -- share your life and ask about theirs. Hug them, spend time with them, and LOVE them while you have the chance. You'll never regret it!
Please pray for myself and my mother, as we make these painful but necessary "hard" decisions.
A peek into my mind, to hear the thoughts of a 40-something single male as he walks this planet called Earth.
John M. Kirton II
DISCLAIMER: This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own solely and not those of The Village Church, her ministers, pastors, administrators, staff, covenant members, regular attenders or visitors; my parents; my alma mater, Dallas Christian College, her administration, faculty, Board, alumni, or students, past, present and future; or my employer and fellow employees.
My Story
- John M. Kirton II
- I attended public school for two years and private school for the remainder of my education. After graduation, I attended Bible college in Dallas, Texas, for four and one-half years consecutively. Unfortunately, I failed a class and was unable to graduate with my class but God enabled me to re-take the course and I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Bible and minors in Youth Ministry and Biblical Languages in 1994. After failing the aforementioned course, I had continued attending a church but began to falter in my faith. It was during my second year after my Bible college years that I was introduced to the International Churches of Christ (ICOC), where I became a member and was involved for twelve years. It was not until my twelfth year that, after much prayer from my parents and closest friends, Greg Faure and Wayne Stiles, I became convinced that the ICOC was a religious sect. In June, 2000, I left the ICOC and became a covenant member of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX, in April, 2004.
