Abandonment: Abandonment Defined - Living Free - May 4

Abandonment: Abandonment Defined

Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org

Scripture
"God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.' So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?'"
Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT

Thoughts for the Day
Abandonment is a form of family violence. This week we will look at some of the problems it can cause. We will also look at the healing and hope that are available to its victims.

Mothers and fathers are both capable of abandoning their children. Although more fathers leave, more and more mothers are abandoning their family. "Though there are no hard numbers, reports would seem to indicate that the number of moms who actually do run away-or at least walk away-is increasing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of single fathers has been rising steadily, from more than 600,000 in 1982 to more than 2 million in 2011." (CNN Opinion: Peggy Drexler)

In Father Hunger, Robert McGee suggests three types of absent parent:

• The parent and child live in the same house and see each other every day, yet the parent is unable or unwilling to love the child and share time and intimacy with him or her.
• The parent is rarely around due to divorce, workaholism, or other distractions. It is impossible to form relationships with someone who is never around. 
• The child does not know his or her parent because the parent left when the child was very young ... or the mother did not identify the missing father or know who he was to begin with.

Consider this … 
Have you seen or experienced any of these situations in your life? Even as an adult, you may be suffering from the scars of childhood abandonment.

Though a parent may have abandoned you ... perhaps even both parents ... you are loved. You are valuable because you are loved by Jesus. And He promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

This week we will look at the healing and hope that only He can bring. He loves you unconditionally and wants to help you.

Prayer

Father, help me make right choices. Help me choose doing what is right over what is easy. Help me choose to please you rather than others.
In Jesus' name . . .

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
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