Thank you poodle. Nothing encourages us more in the turbulent times in life as the word of God. Is this book a daily devotional?

Lindajoan, it is a small book that has 10 God given strategies for difficult times. The author is Robert J. Morgan. I believe she got it at Lifeway. It pertains to ANY difficulty in life....estrangement, disease, divorce, loss of job....any trials we may have. It has truly been a comfort. It of course has scriptural references for each "rule".

Thank you poodle.

Excellent ~ I love the allegories. Thank you so much for sharing.

I have learned so much about the Father's love through this trial of estrangement.
After all, Father God has shown His love to me when ------
I sulked
I yelled at Him
I refused to listen to Him
I withheld my love from Him
I was irresponsible and selfish
I ignored Him and was apathetic
I blamed Him for all my troubles and pain
I turned my back on Him in bitterness and anger
I only wanted to take from Him without giving anything in return
I rushed head-long into sin, wanting only to make myself feel good
I acted towards Him like my child is currently acting towards me...........

During these times, I felt totally justified --- I never saw that I was a Prodigal Daughter, but now I do --- and yet, Father God was and is so patient with me. "To whom much is forgiven, the same loves much."

So true!

Thank you for the reminder that all things work together for good. It doesn't feel good right now, but we will understand someday and we are certainly getting a chance to change under this pressure. I have to choose to keep a good attitude and grow close to God. Appreciate this post and the encouragements! In response to everloving11: I love this comparison of our relationship with God and our relationship in human parenting. I saw a comment on another website that said, " I gave my child life, now I give them unconditional freedom from me". I think we can connect this to how our heavenly Father also does the same for us. That helped me see things a little differently. I still am sad that my ed and grandchildren are not in my life, but I am leaning on hope and also letting go of my ideas of what my life should look like. I , like most of us, have really beat myself up over this estrangement. I am tired of trying to figure it out. God may have some wonderful plans for our children. And they may have some wonderful callings ahead to build God's kingdom and they will need these experiences to draw from. I just continue to struggle with the fact that I want to be a part of it(their lives), and have to except that I may not see it and then be ok with that. I also need to remember that God is not done with me yet either and I am determined to finish the race strong (right now I am limping...) Thanks ladies!

its a very sad time in our life during estrangement,its becomes exhausting and i think you become numb,and so frightning to think your children can do this.Some of my days are just consumed with crying.But withthe support of all our friends here,and prayers,and with Gods help i can cope a little better.

everloving that is exactly what I have done for my son.....just as you said God has done for us....I loved him when he sulked, when he yelled at me....when he hated me...when he withheld love from me....when he blamed me....when he hurt me...when he rejected me....etc etc.....the image as God as your parent is very real to me.....probably for most of us.....

Thank you for reminding me about that book. My in-laws gave me that book right when my daughter left 2 years ago and it has been very helpful to me. I will pull it out and re-read now.

Another GREAT read is "Parents with a Broken Heart", which has probably been the most practical book for me during this trial, as our situation is really more of a prodigal child/estrangement combination.

Hugs, dear friends.