“Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, The Message Bible).

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

Today’s column is a reprint of one column on which we have had the most comments. This column strikes a chord with the masses because the story spotlights the heartbreaking reality of addiction and I wanted to share it with you, again, today. It says everything:

Mom shares late daughter’s poem about heroin addiction

A parent’s worst nightmare became a reality for Brian and Bridget Farrell when their 23-year-old daughter, Delaney, overdosed from heroin and died recently, 7/1/17. She knew what her monster was, said Brian in a Facebook video that now has more than 11,000 views. She knew she was battling it. Delaney lost the battle on Saturday. She was found by Williamsport, Pennsylvania, police at a Red Roof Inn where she had previously been employed.

Although Delaney has died, she left behind a powerful poem that has struck a chord with many. The poem, which expresses what it’s like to struggle with heroin addiction, was included by her mother in her obituary (whose online version had crashed from a surge of traffic on Friday) after she found it in her daughter’s journal. Here is the complete poem written by Delaney:

Funny, I don’t remember no good dope days.

I remember walking for miles in a dope fiend haze.

I remember sleeping in houses that had no electric.

I remember being called a junkie, but I couldn’t accept it.

I remember hanging out in abandos that were empty and dark.

I remember shooting up in the bathroom and falling out at the park.

I remember nodding out in front of my sister’s kid.

I remember not remembering half of the things that I did.

I remember the dope man’s time frame, just ten more minutes.

I remember those days being so sick that I just wanted to end it.

I remember the birthdays and holiday celebrations.

All the things I missed during my incarceration.

I remember overdosing on my bedroom floor.

I remember my sisters cry and my dad having to break down the door.

I remember the look on his face when I opened my eyes,  thinking today was the day that his baby had died.

I remember blaming myself when my mom decided to leave.

I remember the guilt I felt in my chest making it hard to breathe.

I remember caring so much but not knowing how to show it

and I know to this day that she probably don’t even know it.

I remember feeling like I lost all hope.

I remember giving up my body for the next bag of dope.

I remember only causing pain, destruction and harm.

I remember the track marks the needles left on my arm.

I remember watching the slow break up of my home.

I remember thinking my family would be  better off if I just left them alone.

I remember looking in the mirror at my sickly complexion.

I remember not recognizing myself in my own Damn reflection.

I remember constantly obsessing over my next score  but what I remember most is getting down on my knees and  asking God to save me cuz I don’t want to do this no more!!!

Arboleda, C. (2017). Mom shares late daughter’s poem about heroin addiction. https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/momshares-late-daughters-poem-heroin-addiction-210729832.html

Thank you for reading my column. Write to me at “Kids Like Me” P.O. Box 354, Alamosa, CO, 81101. If you know a kid like me, or parent who is an addict or alcoholic, or both, please tell him or her about “Amarah’s Corner, Kids Like Me” in the Valley Courier and tell them to contact me, or you can contact me on their behalf.

And, if you know a kid like me, or parent, who does not have a Bible, but would like to have one, please, contact me and I will make sure he or she gets a Bible of their very own, “…and all the earth may know there is a God…” (1 Samuel 17:46, KJV).

Remember, Jesus Loves you and Jesus is Lord!