Brad Is Gone….

Well, it’s done and done for good or ill this time.  Brad came home several times during the weekend looking high, denying it each time of course, and making a big scene about how I want him to be guilty of something.  Today on my break, I texted him asking how school was, something already telling me he wasn’t there, and I was right.

He texted me saying he was at a marine recruiters office, different from the one I called for him, saying it made him mad that I was trying to run his life.  Okay, point taken.  But I had already called the recruiter back I spoke to, and he informed me that each recruiter is assigned an area, and he was the only one for ours, and Brad would have been referred to him anyway.  Then he checked a computer and said if Brad had spoken to another recruiter, it would be in the database. It wasn’t.

So I called home when I got off to check in with Brian, Brad being at work until 8:30.  He said Brad was very high when he got home, and that he saw a pipe on the sofa, and then it disappeared right before Brad left for work.  On a hunch, I went to his job and found the pipe stuffed down between the seats of the pickup truck.   I took it and was waiting for him when he got off.  I confronted him, showed him the pipe and he accused me of trying to set him up.  So I told him I had had enough, come home get his stuff and leave.  I kept his truck and his house key, and told him he is not allowed back for any of his stuff if I am not home.  He was angry and belligerent the whole time, claiming the pipe belonged to his friend Daniel.  I couldn’t tell him I knew better due to Brian, he doesn’t want his brother to know he had anything to do with me finding out.

So, Brad is gone, I am resolved to make him live with the consequences.  I don’t have to worry about his school, there was a letter in the mail also this evening that he was no longer part of the program due to his poor attendance, so he was done with getting a diploma anyway.  I am extremely sad it came to this, but not feeling any guilt.  I have come to the point where this is the only possible solution, to make him suffer the consequences of his decisions.  I am praying as always that God will keep His hand on him and protect him from himself, but I have done all I can possibly do.  I am certain of that at least.  I love my son, I want him safe, but he has to come to the decision to steer his life in the right direction on his own, or allow God to do it.  No one else can make the decision for him.

As I’ve asked before, if you are a praying person, please keep Brad in your prayers, add him to your church prayer list, whatever it takes to keep his name lifted up in prayer.  Thanks for all your support throughout this, it has been a comfort to me that so many have confirmed that my course of action is the only one left to take.

Probably won’t be back for a few days, need to get myself in order mentally and emotionally and process this for a bit.