Amarah's Corner: Grandma cares for grandkids whose parents are addicts

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, everyone! It’s that time of year, again! It’s time for our annual Kids Like Me Toy/Food/Warm Clothing Drive! We are so grateful to ACE HARDWARE because they agreed for Kids Like Me donations to be dropped off at their store at157 Craft Drive, Alamosa, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Donations began the day after Thanksgiving and end, Friday, 12/22/17. This year the Christmas Gift give-away for Kids Like Me will be Saturday, 12/23/17, at the Church of Christ 408 Victoria Avenue, Alamosa.

Hey, kids like me! I received a letter from a grandmother who is raising her grandchildren who are kids like me and I wanted to share it with you. This letter means a lot to me:

Dear Amarah,

Thank you for all you do for kids like you and their families. Your work is so important. I know this first hand because I too raise my grandkids because of addiction issues with their parents.  There is no worse feeling than facing your own child in court and testifying that they would rather use drugs than care for their own children. Addiction must be a very powerful thing because there is nothing in the world that would keep me from my children or grandchildren. If a judge told me I had to scrub toilets in order to see my kids, I would scrub toilets.  

Unfortunately these days some parents don’t see it that way. It breaks my heart to see my grandkids suffer and wonder what they did wrong and why they can’t live with their parents. It doesn’t matter how much love and care my husband and I give, it doesn’t seem to be enough since they would rather be with their parents. The tears and fears are endless. It’s hard for them to live a normal life knowing that they were abandoned by their parents for something so ugly like drugs and alcohol. They feel like they are all alone in their struggle for a normal, happy life, especially when they see their friends with their moms and dads. I grew up in an alcoholic house so I know what it feels like to be scared and worry every night about what was going to happen.  I couldn’t invite my friends over for fear that my own father would come home drunk. I’m not going to give up. I will continue to love and cherish every single day with my grandkids and remind them that they are important and loved. We pray for their parents every day. We pray that the cycle of addiction will be broken. It’s a curse that can be broken with God’s help. I’ve seen healing in my family so I have faith that it can happen in other families.

Thank you for your words and for helping other children understand that they are not alone.  Continue reaching out to those parents. I’m sure they feel bad for their choices. I’m sure that when they are sober, they can think clearly and hopefully regain the trust that is broken and heal their families as well.  
God Bless You. Keep up the good work. I’m proud of your bravery.  

Yours Truly,
Caring Grandma

Thank you for your letter, Caring Grandma. God Bless You! 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! I hope to hear from you soon!

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!