I recently found some words that Jonathan had hurriedly written on a piece of paper, which had been torn out of a spiral notebook. It read like a poem, so I typed it up. I feel that his message is profound because it is obviously written from his own perspective of being knocked to the ground so many times in his life. I have entitled the poem, “Failure?”
Read MoreI want to encourage everyone who is reading this right now to make a commitment to not even think about suicide. Whenever the thought pops into your mind, immediately stop that thought and do something different. Get up, go outside, take a walk, call someone. Find something—anything—you can do to remove yourself from your current, depressive environment. Do everything it takes to get rid of the negative energy around you, which is bringing those suicidal thoughts into your mind.
Read MoreMany times, during Jonathan’s teenage and adult life, I didn’t know where he was living or if he were alive or dead. All I could do was keep fervently praying for him morning and night. I’ve always loved the scriptures, which reminded me of how much my Heavenly Father cared about my son. I knew the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, would not abandon Jonathan.
Read MorePeople who are addicted are people, not just addicts, and they have feelings, and hopes, and dreams—just like people who are not addicted.
Read MoreAs tired tears trickled slowly down my grieving face, I vowed that my son would not die in vain. I knew I would go forward with my life and help the rest of my family, and everyone else in the world who needed it, to find true freedom from addiction.
Read MoreAs you read about Jonathan’s life and death, I hope it will motivate you to help change the world by doing an act of kindness for someone EVERY day.
Read MoreAn excerpt from my memoir, Freedom from Addiction: A Mother's Story of Hope, which is about my son, Jonathan, who lived a struggling, unselfish, heroic life before committing suicide on March 5, 2010 at the age of thirty-five.
Read MoreWrite a plan for your life. Where do you want to be one year from now? Five years? Ten years? Choose wisely. It’s your life.
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