Jesus Loves us all. And he (my son) is getting Healing...

Hello all, after a while...

God Bless you - we (my son Tom and I) have been today to a wedding at our Jesus Army household in Acton, West London.
The couple were married at a registry office, but we had the reception in the church house, and they will be blessed in Church on Sunday. There is no dodgy "history", but it was difficult to arrange a chapel wedding when they wanted to be married. The decor in the house was autumn vine leaves - the sisters had made a wonderful cake, and the bride, A. (who is in about her late 40s) wore a gorgeous pale mauve, long lacy dress, with mauve headband, stole and sandals, and a bouquet of deep pink roses. She has very long blonde hair - looks like a fairy princess. Romantic! Lots of the men looked usually smart, and everyone was happy for them. I was taking photos, but then my batteries ran out - however, 2-3 other "sisters" were snapping away, so there has be a good record of it the day's events.

"When I stop at the Cross / All I see is love, love, love..." (Godfrey Birtill, UK Protestant Christian Worship leader and songwriter/ performer - who guested at our big MJA Church worship day last Saturday in Sheffield, and from his CD, 'Dread God'..) God is love. This does NOT mean "America" or Mr. President George Bush - I don't see how one can be a Christian (born again or not) and wage war and bloodshed on a Middle East country (Iraq), or in the 3rd World. Who's fooling whom?

Now to Tom, my son. He has been improving, and we are awaiting firm news of a Rehab. placement for him. So far 3 houses have fallen through, but we have now been offered another one in December - in Camberwell, South London. They seem to be willing to take him. He is also being offered a placement on the local ASCA alcoholism outpatient treatment programme, we hope! Today he did well - he came to the wedding today, and was happy to meet all the brothers and sisters who were there. He felt a great sense of peace just being in the church house and with his fellow Christians. He is allowed to stay with us until Tuesday, which is his 29th birthday. They will check him again then. There is still the anxiety of his Court case next Wednesday - we hope he will be let off with a warning, and they will take into account his mental illness when he was found drunk and incapable. We were told the court would very probably be lenient with him - ie. give him a warning or fine. He was very disappointed not to get into the first 3 homes that were considered, as they all seemed really good and suitable.

I have been corresponding with 2 other mothers who lost their children - one has written a book about it, and the other is The Compassionate Friends magazine editor (TCF is a family bereavement support group). They both have siblings (also younger) of the child they lost, who have problems with substance abuse, and poor mental health. Tom already had these problems before Alice died in 2000, but no doubt her death made things worse for him. It is harder for them to fight, and harder for their battered family to support them - but we still do our best. The immediate worry is the surviving sibling (brother or sister) with the abuse or mental health problems - as the dead cannot suffer any more... We need to remember our lost, dead children, and have times when we can do this, with enough space to express our feelings truly and freely. But God is with us.

That's all again - I will try to write some more soon. I need to say much more about my late dear daughter Alice (she died aged 27), and how our feelings of loss have been put on the "back burner". I thank the Lord God for the support I have from people in my church, my friends, colleagues, contacts and family.

Blessings and love to all - Tigey