Amarah's Corner: Mom: Addiction hurts everyone

Hi! My name is Amarah. Kids are important to me, and they’re important to Jesus, too.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 (KJV), “Whatever you’ve done unto the least of these (kids), you’ve done it unto me.”

“Kids like me” are kids and adults of all ages whose parents are, or were, drug addicts, and alcoholics; kids who have suffered, or who are suffering, abuse and neglect on multiple levels; and kids who are victims of bullying.

Hey, kids like me! I had the privilege to ask questions of some mothers in Alamosa County Jail about their struggle with addiction. Today is the 7th story:

I prefer not using my name for my children’s sake. I was born in Alamosa, Colorado, and I had both parents when I was little. To my knowledge, my parents did not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs.

I was not emotionally abused, or sexually abused, but I was physically abused (which did hurt me emotionally).

I did not have a pet. And, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.

I had three sisters, and I had grandparents. My grandma was my one trusted adult I could talk with about things in my life. I went to church every weekend, and I believe in God, soul-deep.

I did not have trouble in school, but sometimes it was hard for me. My teachers were good with me, sometimes. I did not have friends in school; I liked to be alone. I did not play sports in school and I was not in band, but I play the guitar now that I am 33-years old.

I am very artistic. I love to draw, write poems and stories.

I am divorced with four children and one on the way. My relationship with my children was great but they were taken from me due to a nervous breakdown, and drugs.

I took my children to church every weekend with grandparents, and I taught my kids about Jesus from their birth. I never hurt my children, and I am so sorry that I failed my children as their mother. I want to make things right with my children, and I’m going to make things right with them as soon as possible.

I do not drink alcohol and I never have, and I don’t use drugs anymore. My drug of choice was meth. I used it for two years. I started using meth because my kids were taken away from me. But, I stopped using meth because it ruined my life completely.

How do I feel about the possibility of my kids using drugs? I will prevent it!

If I could change anything in my life, I would make more children aware of the consequences and help anyone I could by telling them my story.

My advice for parents who are addicts…You are not able to be a real parent if you are an addict. Get help for yourself, for your kids, and put your kids with someone safe until you are able to be a real parent.

My advice for grandparents of “kids like me”…Pray, keep faith, and change what you can to help the addict parent, and to help the kids.

My advice for “kids like me”…Don’t ever use drugs and please always remember it’s not your fault. Pray. And always know you are special. Know that addiction is a sickness. Addiction hurts everyone doing it and it hurts the people around the user, especially the children.

My perfect world would be me, my kids, and God. The rest will fall in place.

Thank you, Anonymous, for sharing your story! Please stand on Mark 11:24 (NIV): Jesus said, …whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours. Thank you for reading my column. Write to me at Amarah’s “Kids Like Me” P.O. Box 354, Alamosa, CO 81101. If you know a kid like me, or parent, who is an addict/alcoholic, please tell him/her about “Amarah’s Corner, Kids Like Me” in the Valley Courier. Tell them to contact me, or you can contact me on their behalf. If you know a kid like me, or parent, who doesn’t have a Bible, but wants one, please, contact me. I’ll make sure he/she gets a Bible, “…and all the earth may know there is a God…” (1 Samuel 17:46, KJV).

Amarah’s “Kids Like Me” offers non-denominational World Bible School (WBS) Bible Correspondence Courses (free/postage paid) in English/Spanish to kids like me (ages 8-12), their parents, and even if you’re not a kid like me! Teens/adults take the WBS Master Series Courses so if you would like the WBS Courses, send your name/age/address and I’ll get you started ASAP! My goal is to help kids like me, and I want to help their parents, too. Until next time, remember, Jesus Loves You, and JESUS IS LORD!