As you probably know, my day-to-day lifecame to a devasting end when those two county sheriff’s department cars pulledinto my yard at 11:53 last Friday night.

It was almost déjà vu.  

How many times over the years had I lainawake in bed at night, wondering where she was, when she’d be home, how she’dget home? How many times in recent years would I check her location on GoogleMaps before going to bed at night and again at 2 am, only to find she was stillat the bar? How many times did I wait for the phone to ring or the doorbell toring?

It’s a long story. Let me explain. No,there is too much. Let me sum up.

Quite a few years ago, my daughter got twoOWIs within a year or two. But she kept drinking. At the end of January 2023,she hit bottom and sobered up, went to AA several times a week, and was workingthe program. Then her dog died from blasto, and the need to drink came rushingback.

Two weeks ago, she got her third OWI.Instead of it waking her up, committing herself to stop drinking and gettingher act together, she kept spiraling out of control. 

Last Friday night, the demon in her head,which was pushing her to drink and telling her that her life might as well beover, won. But only for that one instant.

I feel in my heart – no, I know in myheart and soul because Jesus has told me this. That in that final instant,Jesus slayed those demons that had been wearing her down and announced to Satanthat he was done. And Jesus took her gently in His arms and carried her toheaven. Why He couldn’t have just carried her back to me, I do not know.

The only other thing that I do know isthat my baby girl, with a heart for caring for others, whose love wasimmeasurable, whose spirit was a little wild, whose smile was more beautiful thansunrise over Lake Superior. I know that the devil was after her for half of herlife because he knew her amazing qualities, and that scared him, so he justkept assaulting her. But in the end, Satan never wins.   

This is how I face each day now: Satannever wins. Jesus always does, even if it’s not in our time or in our way.  

My baby girl is at peace now, and somedaywe’ll be together again. In the meantime, I want the world to know that.