When Drugs Seem to Take Over

You see the stories all the time in the Metroplex, Dallas-Fort Worth. About 7 million folks living here.

But we are on the fringe. We operate small. A lot of grandparents live here with parents and kids. As do I.

It goes well, most of the time. Sometimes it doesn't.

Our small town just started football a few years ago. Last year, first year of UIL competition, we almost made the state finals.

That's how good our quarterback was.

This was to be his senior year, crown on his full ride to a university.

In August, he was arrested on drug charges.

The coach kicked him off the team. the sophomore replacement hasn't led to many victories. It was righteous.

This boy, who has gone through all the schools here, whose mother is a teacher here, didn't start his senior year here. I don't know what the family did. Already I weep for this family.

He and his girlfriend broke up. Apparently she is the daughter of a school board member.

He is accused now of buglarising his girl friend's home and setting it on fire.

He is in jail at last word.

If that were my son, I don't know what I would do.

I don't know what will happen.

This boy hasn't destroyed his life yet, but he could. At 18 years of age. He will never have the bright lights and maybe the Pro Sports he hoped for. If he turns around, he can have A Life.
But he has to turn around. I don't know if he can. His parents hope, but they can't know.

Drugs are ugly. They destroy. For some reason, this boy tried them. He chose through drugs to destroy his life.

When you hear it in the news, it hurts. When it is in your community, it hurts all of us.

He made the choice. He used the drugs. And he and the rest of us have to live with the consequences. Some of them are very painful.

You know? I haven't said a word about the victims in this same community. The fire burned most of their belongings. Their poor dog, thinking the burglar was a friend, was doused in fuel and set on  fire as well.

This is horrible. And I hope you, your neighborhood, your community, never have to experience it.

Because it hurts. . Really, really bad.