Ha, I stopped drinking coffee last year about the same time I started drinking beer Lol! I was wrestling preparing for a tournament and had a scare. Cardiologist said no more maxing out my cardiovascular system and to cut down on the coffee unless I wanted to switch to decaff. I now enjoy coffee on the weekends, but not during the week. Yesterday at the doc, my pulse was 51 and my pressure was 101 over 62 or 68.
Ironically, the Cleveland Clinic hints that a drink a day is good for the heart. I was talking to my cardiologist there and he said they down play the benefits of alcohol because most can't stop at a drink a day which leads to other medical issues with the liver etc. So, I try to stay within that guidline,and it's much easier as time heals the aching in my bones and in my soul.
I'm sorry to hear about your son and his depression. My older brother suffered that, and so have I several times in my life. That's why I did not drink for so many years and why I would not drink after my daughter died. I learned that lesson with my first daughter when she died. In a way, her death, as well as being the one who found this boy, and brought him to shore, and later the funeral
http://www.macombdaily.com/20070723/boy-9-dies-in-apparent-drowning-at-stony-creek
Along with the death of my brother helped me to navigate the death of my other daughter.
In short, I found out that depression and alcohol are not always good partners. My youngest son is 18 and all of this plus other deaths in his life has taken it's toll. He drinks and won't separate from his pot. It hurts me, but I understand, in part his why. So this is where prayer and openness comes in and I don't let my fears over take me, nor do I impose them on others. He is my only son, whom I love, so I need patience and wisdom.
I am sorry for rambling, and I hope you know your not alone with your burdons and something I've said brings you some sort of comfort. And with that, I'll leave you with this.
Scripture says that we are to pray for the burdens of others. But when it is your child, and if we can be honest, we pray that they get their heads out of their butts, stop the stupidness and as parents, our pain from watching them make mistake after mistake would come to an end.
That's kinda selfish, and we miss the opportunity to see our kids as individuals with issues we may have contributed to. This isn't blame. So, what I have learned is to pray for the burdens of my child, and when I did, I realized that when his burden is lifted, his behavior will follow and my burden will be lifted.
The mission of Jesus is reconciliation... So should ours.
God bless.
