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Mother of gay son who loves and accepts him as he is

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grebo5454
 
Joined in 2010
October 15, 2010, 18:49

🙂 Hello Anthony


My name is Helen Grebert and I am Sam’s mum. (Ben Greshams Sam’s mum).


God put this on my heart to email you and introduce myself for a few weeks now so here goes…


You are such an inspiration from what I’ve heard from Sam and Ben to all GLBT people (both young and old) and for that, I am very grateful. You have helped so many people realise that they can be gay and still have the love of God in their lives to encourage and guide them through good and bad times.


Sam only told his father and I that he was gay in April this year. He did not tell us why he left Grafton so quickly in October last year or that he was “thrown” out of the church that he planted and out of ministry.


We had so many unanswered questions about why he left so abruptly. As he is our only sibling, it came as quite a shock when he told us as there were no signs at all, however, after a few tears and him talking to us, we finally had the truth and the answers that we were missing.


Sam and I have always had a fantastically close relationship so it was good to get answers at last.


It just came to his father and I as second nature for us to accept Sam as a gay young man, as our love for our only son was of course, unconditional as is God’s love. His love for God had never wavered (just got “lost” for a short time because of how many Christian people he trusted here in Grafton treating him so badly – mainly through their ignorance of his same sex thoughts).


I realise from speaking to Ben and Sam that they are both very lucky young men of God to still have unconditional love from their parents and I find it very hard to comprehend that there are so many young people out there (and in Freedom 2 b(e) that have parents who don’t want to know their kids anymore because they are gay. (I have actually met some of them and been out to dinner with them and they are just adorable). I just wanted to jump up and give them heaps of hugs and kisses as the “mum” figure as I find this a very sad situation for them.


I also loved reading your book and there were quite a few similarities between your story and Sams relative to the churches attitude so it hit home for me especially too when you both went from being very successful and respected Pastors to virtually nothing as far as the churches were concerned. This made me feel very sad as Sam, his father and I put so much love and support into helping Sam plant the church that God had placed on his heart to plant. I realise now that God’s plan was not for Sam to continue in the church, but go out into the community and preach and encourage all GLBT people that you can be gay and Christian and still keep your faith and grow in God’s love.


Sam had the following Bible verse on his wall from a very young age and this, I believe, is why God chose him to do so many things from such a young age (preparing him for what is yet to come) ie Assistant Youth Leader, Youth Leader, Singer in Youth Band, Owner/Manager Christian book shop for 2 years and Pastor (and he is only 22). He also healed me of a serious illness when he was only 12 or 13.


The verse is: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).


Anthony, what can I say about Ben. Even though I have only known him for a short time, I have read his story and basically everything on the net, seen his interviews and spent quite a lot of time talking to him. I know he has come such a long way in such a short time because of his love and passion for God. He is just gorgeous and I know that his parents are so proud of him too. (My sister actually went to school with his mum). He is such a beautiful young man and a very welcome “son” to our family. His love and friendship for Sam has been such a blessing and they have overcome such a lot in their relationship so far and it can only grow from here. I truly believe that God intervened between these two and I thank Him for that.


I am hoping to march with Freedom 2 b(e) next Mardi Gras (if I am allowed) as a very proud mum of a young gay man.


I have told a few people about Sam being gay – my boss, my family and also my 81 year old mother. They were all very accepting and said that “Sam is Sam and always will be just the same person that he always was”. My mother met Ben on the long weekend and actually knew his grandmother so it’s a very small world (especially here in Grafton).


Well Anthony, thank you for letting me share my story with you and you are truly a blessing to all GLBT people (both young and old).


Regards

Helen Grebert



IanJ
 
Joined in 2009
October 15, 2010, 19:19

Helen,

Thank you so much for writing this- not only because it demonstrates so clearly parental and Godly love, but because I am sure that it will encourage other parents who are less sure to love their kids no matter what.


Today, many of us a ‘wearing it purple’ to create awareness of suicide among GLBTIQ teenagers, especially those who are bullied. As you know only too well, churches are often part of this abuse.


Your example shines brightly!

God bless you.


Ian



HillsBen
Youth Coordinator
Joined in 2008
October 15, 2010, 19:29

Amazing post!!


You are an inspiration to many and so happy you posted on the site. 🙂


Maybe now we can finally get Sam to post his story….hehehe :p



Mr Summit
Chapter Leader
Joined in 2010
October 15, 2010, 19:58

Wow, thanks so much for posting this. It’s very encouraging. Hopefully my family will also be so accepting when I come out.


Were you suprised? Did you believe homosexuality was a sin before your son came out?



iplantolive
 
Joined in 2008
October 15, 2010, 20:01

Thanks Helen for sharing your story with us. I was very moved with your unconditional love and acceptance of Sam as a gay son – indeed an example to us all – who has done so much for his local community!


Looking forward to hearing Sams story – told in his own words – when he is ready.



grebo5454
 
Joined in 2010
October 15, 2010, 20:21

🙂 Thank you Ian for your kind words. The purpose for my story is to encourage other parents to not be embarrassed by their kids orientations but to love them just for who they are.

Have a blessed weekend

Helen



grebo5454
 
Joined in 2010
October 15, 2010, 20:22

🙂 Thanks Ben

I’m working on Sam already haha



N149
 
Joined in 2010
October 15, 2010, 20:29

Wow. That is so amazing to hear from a parent =)


Thanks so much for sharing!



Ann Maree
 
Joined in 2008
October 15, 2010, 22:34

Hi Helen


Thank you so much for sharing yourself here. We are blessed indeed. What a great example of a loving mother you are!


Your words are very moving, carrying with them an outpouring of love. And this is such a welcome flood for myself and others in our community. We need to experience more unconditional love raining down on us. Many here, including myself, have been in the desert for too long. And it’s a hard place to be.


Blessings to you,


Ann Maree



grebo5454
 
Joined in 2010
October 16, 2010, 07:18

🙂 Hi Pierre

Sam’s father and I did not judge him as God did not judge and we also have unconditional love for him, as does God no matter what his orientation.

Ben and I are encouraging Sam to write his story but as you say, it will be in his own time when he is ready. It could end up a book as he has done so much in such a short space of time. ha ha


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