I have previously shared a bit about our family’s journey to safety, health and happiness (https://www.eight2eightpursuits.com/post/trading-a-year-for-a-lifetime). If you have followed along, you know that our daughter spent time in the Utah desert at a wilderness therapy program and is currently attending a therapeutic boarding school.
I decided to start writing about our journey in the hopes of encouraging parents and families who have a young person who is hurting and in need. I would like to provide a few words of hope and a listening ear.
As I write today, we are just a few days away from Christmas. Last Christmas, our daughter was still in the desert (literally and figuratively). Those days were especially bleak, and we could not muster the energy to celebrate the season. We were deeply sad and pained by the gaping hole in our home, but it also felt like a betrayal to even attempt to celebrate and enjoy ourselves.
We will get to enjoy a home visit with our daughter for Christmas this year (here’s how our Thanksgiving visit went https://www.eight2eightpursuits.com/post/our-daughter-was-like-a-guest-in-our-home). I have been blessed through these writings to be connected with many families whose young person will not be with them and my heart breaks for the rough days ahead of them.
But……our young people are learning how to be safe and healthy. One holiday (or a few) is a small sacrifice.
Today at mass, our pastor reminded us that this was the one-year anniversary of the tragic loss of one of the young people of our parish. My eyes filled with tears as I sat in my pew. One year ago I was lamenting that my daughter was not going to be home with me THIS YEAR. But this family was grieving because there would NEVER be another holiday with their son.
If your young person is not home with you this season, rejoice in knowing that there is hope. Take comfort that there is opportunity for your family to be whole and healthy again.
Yes, the day will be awful, but all the future holidays will make today’s pain well worth it.
If it would be helpful to know the resources our family has used to seek help and healing:
The Envoy Group (https://www.theenvoygroup.com/) assists families, at no charge, in finding the right wilderness program, therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center.
StarGuides (https://starguideswilderness.com/) helps both boys and girls break dangerous addictions through therapeutic wilderness experiences in the beautiful Utah desert.
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