Reconciling with estranged son

[Benam]

Three years and three months ago I was texting back and forth with my son (now 32) about meeting up for lunch. Mid conversation he just stopped responding. He ghosted me. No response to texts, calls, etc. There was no fight or disagreement or anything, my last text was just to ask where he wanted to eat. He just cut me off. He didn't block me on his socials, and he is still in contact with his younger brother (22) who is still at home, but no clue as to what I may have done wrong. His brother says he has no idea why either.

I've been praying that he would reach out to me, and then last night he did! He texted me out of the blue saying he needed to talk to me and when would be a good time. I asked if he wanted to meet of dinner and he said yes. I know it's difficult to determine mood or tone in text, but the vibe I got from his messages was positive.

I'm immensely thankful to God that he has reached out, but also very apprehensive about why he suddenly needs to talk to me. Hoping he wants to reconcile, worried it's bad news of some kind.

Would appreciate prayers that our meeting this evening (in about 7 hours) goes well. Thanks!

 

[Unqualified]

Encouragement and prayers to you, don’t judge or worry. Stay in Jesus Name.

 

[Offline4Better.]

Three years and three months ago I was texting back and forth with my son (now 32) about meeting up for lunch. Mid conversation he just stopped responding. He ghosted me. No response to texts, calls, etc. There was no fight or disagreement or anything, my last text was just to ask where he wanted to eat. He just cut me off. He didn't block me on his socials, and he is still in contact with his younger brother (22) who is still at home, but no clue as to what I may have done wrong. His brother says he has no idea why either.

I've been praying that he would reach out to me, and then last night he did! He texted me out of the blue saying he needed to talk to me and when would be a good time. I asked if he wanted to meet of dinner and he said yes. I know it's difficult to determine mood or tone in text, but the vibe I got from his messages was positive.

I'm immensely thankful to God that he has reached out, but also very apprehensive about why he suddenly needs to talk to me. Hoping he wants to reconcile, worried it's bad news of some kind.

Would appreciate prayers that our meeting this evening (in about 7 hours) goes well. Thanks!

I pray that the relationship between you and your son is healed. May God's will be done.

 

[Pop D.]

Heavenly Father, we pray for reconciliation between Benam and his son. May Your Will be done, in the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.

 

[Benam]

Thank you all who prayed. The meeting with my son was both good and bad. I am so happy that God answered my prayers and he reached out to me. On the "bad" side of things is the reason he did so.

Apparently he has been suffering from a debilitating and extremely painful illness for the past couple of years that, despite various tests, an MRI, physio, etc, remains officially undiagnosed (although they now think they know what it is and he is awaiting another MRI). This got him thinking about his own mortality and "what if something happens to me and Dad doesn't know?"

I have no idea why he ghosted me for over three years. As much as I wanted to question him about it I just listened to what he had to say about his illness and only asked questions about the things he shared with me.

So it's far from a complete reconciliation but it's a start and I pray that it will lead to more. I also pray that the doctors will diagnose and find a solution to his condition (if it's what they now suspect it is it can be corrected with relatively minor surgery).