May 2020 Newsletter

Download a PDF to read the full newsletter. Or read our featured article below.

Reuniting A Family

Division of Miranda’s family began with domestic violence, caused by substance abuse. Still, there was no reason for the father of her two youngest children to go out partying, then return home out of control. There was no excuse for verbally abusing, physically blocking, restraining, or hitting her. There was no defense of such behavior in front of children. He had a job, yet the couple and four children lived in her mother’s house. The disruption echoed through the neighborhood. Witnesses abounded. Miranda’s mother took control reporting him, charging him with trespass, and placing a no contact order. The Department of Human Services warned her that she could lose custody of her children. Yet, the intensity of her codependent relationship was stronger than her motherly instinct. She repeatedly took the risk of contacting him and lost. Their family of six ended up in five different places. Only the two youngest were together in a foster home.

Coping with such loss of relationship with partner and children is overwhelming, especially when blame is deserved. Self-destruction and numbing the pain can be the response. Miranda chose methamphetamine. Again, she did the forbidden and was caught. Regaining custody of her children was then all the more difficult. She was in jail and needed a new way to live.

For Miranda to be reunited with her children, she needed to: 1) have a homelike setting. 2) have a safe environment. 3) have a safety service provider on-site. 4) engage in her treatment program. Samaritan Inn was her only option. Returning to her mother’s house or living on her own were not acceptable. And the critical element of time separation from her children was running out. Two weeks after arriving at Samaritan Inn, she regained custody of her oldest child. A month later, the three youngest arrived here, having been separated from their mom for seven months. Only then could she be on a waiting list to move her family to an approved apartment complex with a manger who is a safety service provider.

Miranda was unchurched until she responded to a call for a service in jail. There she cried for help to get clean and sober, and to get her children back. Then going to nightly chapel at Samaritan Inn, she said, “was a turn in the road.” Here, she heard a chapel volunteer share her testimony that was so much like Miranda’s own life, that she said, “it really hit home.” She stopped blaming God, and began forgiving others. Connection was made with a local church and a Christian recovery ministry. She said, “I am reading my Bible. I am a believer!” Now, this family has been rescued and has real hope.