Hubby signed up for a study of Pastor Tony Evan's book, Kingdom Man.
First week was introduction where the men each shared a little bit about who they are. Uncharacteristically, during introductions, hubby mentioned he currently struggles with troubles brought into our lives courtesy our adult adoptees, their behaviors as young adults exactly matching the symptoms list of the mental illness diagnosed years earlier when they were first placed with us. That same night, after that first meeting, an "elderly gentleman" in his 70's quietly said he needed to talk... it turns out he is also an adoptive father, 20 years ahead of our experience, and now grandfather to many of his adopted daughter's multiple children, by many different men.
Hubby came home encouraged. He is not alone in this journey.
Week after week Hubby was eager to "do his homework" for the class... loving the contents of the book, and the fellowship among men who were studying this book with him.
Several, quiet conversations afterwards with the more experienced adoptive father were definitely a bonus.
Fast forward to the last class... where this group of men who had been coming together to share their experiences, their hopes and struggles in walking out Kingdom values as men in our culture, time to say goodbye.
Hubby has a "ministry" not for profit, not for tax deduction, it's something he's good at, enjoys doing that benefits others... and he offers his services to whomever could be blessed by computer repair. His "day job" pays way more than his repair work ever could... but he loves to have his hands in electronics troubleshooting and repairing. We decided long ago "charging" for services to earn a profit robbed the family of time, because his "overtime" computer repair work earned far less than minimum wage... and he was doing it more as a hobby. It became obvious that the average person who needs computer repairs finds the repairs to be quite expensive... and would be blessed if hubby "donated" his services tinkering to repair their computers. The joys associated with working to serve the Lord is worth so much more than any money hubby might earn from dedicating the bulk of his time off towards tinkering on his financially unprofitable passion.
At the last class, when the men were saying goodbye to the other men they had bared their hearts to regarding life... my hubby described his "ministry" and passed out a business card with his full name and contact info on it.
One man came up to him... and apologized.
Outside of this class, my husband didn't know this man... at all.
Outside this class, this man knew OF my husband, but didn't know until he saw the name... my husband was a man he'd heard MUCH about.
You see... this man was a neighbor to our adult-daughter's "rescue mommy" ... this man worked at a "christian" business with our adult RAD.
This man couldn't figure out why our daughter, an adult, lived with a senior citizen couple that was not her own parents.
When he asked what was up with the very strange living arrangements... our daughter gave him ears full... of RAD garbage.
He spent endless hours trying to "counsel" our daughter how to handle her "plight"... to the point his wife was wondering if our daughter was "the other woman."
Before this class... this man had no idea who my husband was... but through this class... as the men shared the burdens of their heart to serve God honorably in all they do... this man got to really know my husband.
This man saw the card, saw my husbands full name, and immediately identified "the stories" as stories about my husband. This man apologized, profusely for his involvement in our family. He apologized for being so easily duped.
He apologized. From out of nowhere. We weren't even aware he'd "meddled" at all... we didn't even know he existed. We're grateful truth was revealed to his heart. We're grateful he stepped forward to make things right.
We continue to pray for all who have been duped into believing the lies, manipulations, and triangulations of Reactive Attachment Disorder. We pray they'd be convicted of their wrongs, and heartfully sorry, not condemned forever for their unwitting evils... see... he... like most involved... really believed he was helping... until truth was revealed.
Lord have mercy!
