Spotlight of Faith — Partners in Prayer

Dianne from Partners in Prayer for our Prodigals.

Partners in Prayer for our Prodigals was one of the first blogs I stumbled on in my early blogging days. The concept stunned me – what vulnerability – what honesty!

“Is this what blogging can be like?” I wondered, intrigued by this community of souls that connected only online – the body of Christ working through high speed internet.

I instantly connected with Diane. I could tell this woman of faith had a lot to offer me and the blogosphere.

If you have already met Diane, you know that she is an encourager, a teacher and a friend. She bears her heart and leads the way Home for all us, whether we are “prodigals” or not.

In her first post Diane describes herself:

After spending months learning how to navigate through cyber-space, I have discovered blogging. This may not seem like much of an accomplishment to you; let me just note–I’m not the stereotypical blogger. I am a 51 year old, midwest suburban housewife who brings much apprehension to this keyboard. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good adventure, but cyberspace is new territory for me.

Today I asked Diane some more questions about how this atypical blogger is finding life online and how it is affecting her life offline.

Janice: Diane, thank you so much for chatting with us today. I want to get into your mission for families of prodigals, but first may I ask how you are doing with the health scare you have been writing about on your blog this week? You underwent an MRI today to help diagnose some nodules.

Diane: Thanks Janice. Each October, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I head directly to my Breast Imaging Center and do my annual mammogram. This year, the Radiologist called me to return; he needed to do some further tests to analyze the newly spotted nodules. After additional testing, he was still unable to determine what, exactly, the nodules “of interest” were and he referred me to another imaging center for a Breast MRI. I am still waiting for the results of this exam while continuing to draw comfort from my life verses, Psalm 139: 13-18. While it takes just a few moments to review this process, the actual emotional wear and tear was worthy of a blogging post or two! Monthly self-breast exams and annual mammograms are vital to a woman’s well-being; neither should be understated. Holy Mama does an excellent service each month as she has dedicated the 17th as SBE day!

Janice: How has your faith been challenged by this health scare? Has your experience with your son helped prepare you for moments like this?

Diane: Great question, Janice. Yes, in spite of God’s faithful love and care throughout my life, my faith has been stretched. In 10/19’s post, I referred to this stretching as “an exercise of faith.” I have learned that the challenging of our faith does not weaken it, rather, as with physical exercise, our faith is strengthened. I have posted about the collateral damage of loving a prodigal. I would be lying if I told you that my faith has never faltered as my son’s journey became more frightening. Yes, loving a prodigal is an exercise of faith! What is true is this–when I remember to remember what God has done in our lives in the past, I fear the future less. Blogging aides us in the keeping of such memories. No longer do we have to search the recesses of our minds alone–we can now surf the archives of our blogs. This useful tool has helped me on numerous occasions. Sometimes emotional pain is so raw, it hurts to breathe, no less, think. Having a place to routinely return; a place where I can be effortlessly reminded of God’s previous revelation in my life and the lives of others– is a gift–pure and simple.

Janice: What is the mission for your blog? Has it changed since you started?

Diane: My original mission statement was to blog openly and honestly about standing in the gap for prodigal children; to edify, to encourage, to support, and to provide a venue for other parents to gather together while praying for our lost children. While that mission statement remains, I have added a few other goals since that time. As blog-friendships developed, my prayer has become that no matter the painful circumstance, that my blog (and those I visit), not just point to the obvious pain of life, but that my underlying focus would point others to the only One who can heal and restore: to bring glory to God! I have also fine tuned my mission statement to include FUN! After all, we are not only promised answers to our prayers–we are promised abundant living!

Janice: What does your family think of your life online? Does your husband mind you sharing about your family? Does your son, to whom the site is dedicated, know about your blog?

Diane: My husband smiles when I speak with him about my blog! While he will probably never, ever, in any of his remaining long-livin’ days, read a blog, he has seen the joy I have experienced since blogging. In fact, I am planning a trip to Colorado to meet another blogging mom and he fully supports my plans. Our 26 year old daughter reads Partners in Prayers for Our Prodigals regularly and has cried and prayed with me for each request. She rejoiced with us as we held our first ever Welcome Home Banquet for Kevin. She wept with us as we mourned the death and honored the life of a young man whose Home Coming Banquet was held in Heaven. As for our 14 year old son, he thinks it’s cool that his mom has a blog. Our prodigal knows that I have dedicated a blog to his journey and may even join me on my trip to Colorado to meet Kevin, once a prodigal–now praying for my prodigal! Each of my family knows that I may share a story or two but they also know that I would never share so personally as to betray their trust or confidence in our relationship.

Janice: How has blogging changed your life? How has it changed your relationship with God and your relationship with your son?

Diane: Blogging has changed my life in very meaningful ways. One of the most surprising ways is the network of support I have gained. Prayer support is shared, friendships have been forged, and a network of support has developed. Through blogging, my faith has deepened; and I have discovered a venue allowing heart to heart sharing. By having a place to share the things I have learned, the tools that have helped, and the Rock who sustains, I have discovered that blogging is a great interactive tool that enhances our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. If there is one thing that has changed relating to my relationship with my son since I began blogging, I would call it…..confidence. This is huge! When your family is in a constant state of disarray, it is important to feel that you have both feet firmly planted. Soon after I began blogging, I recognized an unfamiliar feeling throughout my day…..by dedicating a time each day to His Word, to the sharing of a spiritual lesson or struggle…I found that I was no longer panicking. Gone was the compelling need to micro-manage my prodigal’s life; after all, I have put into print that I have surrendered my beloved son to the One who gifted him to us–what a hypocrite I would be if I did any less than what I said! There is an accountability factor with blogging! I could stop do-ing and start be-ing with him. He was no longer my project…he is God’s project! This confidence alone freed up my ability to simply love my son….no matter where he is on his journey.

Janice: Is a large part of your audience parents of troubled young people? How did they find you?

Diane: I have not done an official survey, however, as I’ve gotten to know my readers better, my best guess is that 25% are parents of prodigals and 75% know a prodigal. Some are married to prodigals, others have a prodigal in their extended family, and best of all–some are former prodigals!

Janice: What do you hope your blog offers people?

Diane: From the first letter of the first word on the first post, I have prayed that the words found on my blog would offer encouragement, edification, support, understanding, and spiritual healing to other parents sharing the same prodigal experience as I was. Today, my hope is that those who come to Partners In Prayer for Our Prodigals will be blessed, as I am blessed….to be part of a network of God’s handiwork and promise….in action.. I hope that my blog will speak to the hearts of the reader. By sharing my experience of loving a prodigal, I pray the reader will not just see my words or read my experiences. Instead, I pray they will see the Word of God and experience the Hope only He provides.

Janice: How has your faith affected your parenting?

Diane: Because I grew up in an alcoholic home, I determined at a very young age–I would never have children! When I discovered the love of our Heavenly Father, I found a model of parenting that was not threatening, dangerous, or painful. I became a parent solely because of my faith. I John 4:19 states my experience perfectly: “We love because He first loved us.” Of the world, I was in bondage; in Him, I was free to love and be loved. It is only because of my faith in God–in His character, His revelation, His Word and His Son….that I can stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30) for my prodigal. Honestly, I do not know how others, who do not have faith (Job 8: 13), make it through the difficult hours, days, months and years of loving a prodigal.

Janice: Thank you so much Diane for being such an encouraging blogger and for sharing your faith with such vulnerability in your blog. You are a blessing!

Diane: And thank you Janice for extending the opportunity to talk about something that many do not understand or even want to comprehend: the spiritual value of blogging! Whether it’s praying for a prodigal or for a desperately sick child, a crumbling marriage or an infertile couple or simply praying for a newfound blogging friend–blogging provides a purpose kind of value: a means of actively using our spiritual gifting by stepping into the cyber-body of Christ in ways we could never have imagined before the Internet. What an awesome God we serve!

Visit Dianne at Partners in Prayer for our Prodigals.