In the last few years, I’ve come to know Melissa and her family very well. I’ve witnessed firsthand the love she has for her son who lives the homosexual lifestyle. Several times, I’ve marveled at how her love for God grows steadily and how He strengthens her each day in each challenge she faces with her son, Jason. Melissa never seems to lose faith in God or her hope for the redemption of her son, who seems so far away from the God whose love pours down like rain over him.

Melissa’s family is continually challenged by the situations they face, but she never stops seeking God on her knees for her child and herself. She could have given up on God and the possibility of His redeeming love reaching into her son’s heart and drawing him close to the One who desires to heal the hurts he has experienced and the rejection he has felt. 

One day Melissa received a call from Jason, notifying her he was in jail and requesting that she pay his bail. She said no. “I always told him, if you end up in jail, don’t expect me to bail you out.” Can you imagine how her heart felt at that moment? Her son had broken the law, and she made a decision that broke her heart.

The world might ask, what kind of mother rejects her child’s bail request? I’d say, a tough mother who wanted her son to learn from the experience and who knew his need for Jesus Christ. Melissa knew her son needed to look to Jesus to be his Savior—not his mother.

During Jason’s incarceration, he witnessed much brokenness and saw what could happen to someone looking for an escape. Jason shared the needs of inmates who were transgender. He told Marissa, “you and Denise need come here. The desire to seek an escape can lead someone into a place that offers absolutely no fulfillment; it can lead to the death of the life God created each of us to have.

Melissa continues to shower love on her son and his friends who identify as homosexual. Not once have I seen her fail to love, in spite of her tears and broken heart. The passing years have brought many challenges for this mom and son. But when Jason needed someone to call, whom did he call? His mom.

The world tells us that if we don’t agree with a loved one’s decision to live gay or transgender, we will lose them. The reality is, our loved ones don’t belong to us. They belong to their Creator who asks us to show His love, comfort, forgiveness, and grace to them as He showers those gifts on us. Obviously, Jason felt Melissa’s love because he called her in his desperation. He knows his mom’s love is ever present!