A mom wrote to me: Love is the way to wear down the demon of addiction. Not fear. You will never regret your loving response in the face of the chaos of addiction. Miracles happen. Souls do come back from the darkness.
My reflection: When my son was in active addiction, I lived in constant fear: fear of the phone call in the middle of night, fear of another arrest, and fear of death. Fear was a constant companion.
Today’s Promise to consider: Love might not change the course of addiction, but it opens the space for us to confront addiction with greater equilibrium, faith, and hope. Today, I’ll put fear aside and bring compassion forward because, if the worst happens, I will never regret responding with love.
I totally agree with you LIbby! As my son got further and further into addiction, I understood the disease more fully. Through the Grace of God, I began to take this attitude….mostly for my self-preservation. After 12 years of active use, Anthony is clean and trying to regain the many losses he has lost through this dreaded disease.
Thank you so much for all of your Wisdom and Love!
Beverly
Dear Beverly, God bless you and your son. After a 12 year addiction, he is clean and sober. He’s good today, and we celebrate. It’s one day at a time, but we can be grateful one day at a time. Thanks for staying close all these years.
I have and live the same moto for my son.
Dear Kelly, Thanks for sharing your wisdom. We learn together. My love to you.
Libby, I love the last sentence from today’s reflection. I hope I will remember it when I need it.
Dear Carole, You’re right that the last line says it all — “Today, I’ll put fear aside and bring compassion forward because, if the worst happens, I will never regret responding with love.” Many parents have told me this, especially those who have lost their children. They find some peace in knowing that their children knew they were loved until the very end. Love binds us together. My love to you.
Love this writing Libby!❤️
Thanks, Karen. My love to you.
Fear: Face Everything and RECOVER. Apropos for the suffering addict and their loved ones. Be kind. Love one another.
Thanks! I never heard this new acronym for FEAR, but I like it. FACE EVERYTHING AND RECOVER. xoxo