15 September 2021
You are strong! You have overcome so many obstacles that God has put in your way. Although there were times that you stumbled and times that you fell, the most important thing is that you kept getting back up. Life is never easy, and that will never change. However, in our experiences, we gain knowledge, and with that knowledge, we become humble. If we hadn’t given gratitude to God and surrendered our entire being to his will, you would not be sitting here reading this letter.
God gave us everything we needed to survive a simple life, and we just needed to understand what simple meant. Sometimes being closed-minded or unwilling to listen prevents us from hearing God’s wishes. It prevented us from seeing his path. These defects prevented us from all the forward momentum necessary to lead simple, productive lives. If you hadn’t taken the opportunity to surrender, you wouldn’t be here reading this letter.
You lied to yourself for so many years that by the time you realized you had your head up your ass, 15 years had passed. You abused medication for so many reasons. Everyone everything is just another excuse. You needed to keep up with your kids, and your back hurt. You needed to make breakfast for the kid and your back hurt. You needed to clean the house, and your back hurt. You must consistently tell yourself that there was a reason for using, which made it all right. That was always the problem with drug addiction; accountability wasn’t in our vocabulary. We were self-absorbed; we only did what was convenient for us. We were never wrong and became so good at spinning tales we couldn’t even keep up with them. Eventually, it caught up to you and turned your life upside down, but God stepped in and gently reminded you that you have free will. He showed you the path of addiction and then the way to recovery! All you had to do was surrender to God! Just like that, make a choice and don’t allow yourself to consider ever using again. If you hadn’t allowed for that complete surrender, you wouldn’t be here reading this letter today.
Our minds were a mess early in recovery, and we felt cloudy and confused. We were unable to focus on the messages of our predecessors. However, we consistently heard things like “we do recover” or “keep coming back—small words of encouragement or simple hellos over days and weeks. Eventually, the fog lifted, and we could focus and receive the messages being given to us. We learn through other people’s experiences and then see through their actions that we can become the great people we were meant to be, just as then we have. Then, we hear God’s whispers and walk the path he has set forth. By completely surrendering to God can be here today reading this letter.
Once we could stand up on our own two feet again, we started using the strength and hope of our predecessors as fuel. We started chasing the things they had, living life on its terms, working hard for what, and doing, and we did it all sober. Some days are more complicated than others, and some are happier t, but we realize overtime is a gift each day. We utilize what we learned from each other, remain humble, and appreciate every moment. For now, we know there were many moments wasted. Lives have been lost to this disease, and God has chosen to allow us a chance to be alive. We will continue to make good decisions and take suggestions that are offered to us. We will continue to listen to understand, not listen to just respond. We will continue to support those in need when asked for said help. We will continue to be of service to each other and God. So long as we follow God’s path, success is achievable for us all. I pray that God allows me to continue this road of life for a long time. I pray for the patience to endure all it brings and the confidence to face all with my tribe. I pray that when you read this letter, you continue to live life on its terms, sober!
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
LR (Self), 120 days