Tag Archives: encouragement

The marathon that is sobriety

I had the blessing of attending a gratitude dinner with my Hubs this weekend for AA. It was an area-wide event and easily attended by 200+ people. Tables of 8, dinner of Thanksgiving foods (appropriately themed) and a desert table groaning under the redonkulous amounts of sugar and butter. It was a pleasure to put faces to names of the Hubs friends, just fantastic people. A few observances of mine throughout the evening:

Coffee. Water. Lots and lots of coffee and water.
Laughter. Smiles. Tons. No grumpy, long faces. Joy.
Introductions everywhere (thank God for nametags!)
Rekindled friendships.

There was a speaker who gave his story of 30+ years of sobriety. A lovely, 70-something man with at times an emotionally shaky voice as he recalled his life, peppered with witty comments and hindsight observances. There was no “massive event” in his life that is present in many alcoholic stories (and drug stories); mainly a life of alcohol-centered living, obnoxious behavior and a wife (and family) that had enough. His message: there doesn’t need to be a “massive event” to stop drinking, but if you have repeated comments, suggestions, pleas from family and friends to “do something about your drinking”, it’s a red flag. Sadly, not everyone sees it until it is too late.

At the end of the evening there was a sobriety countdown. Starting with the most years sober (52) and counting down to the shortest span of sobriety (2 days). It was humbling, impressive and hopeful and I found myself tearing up and that marathon that those with the least sobriety had ahead of them and yet with the amazing support in that room……hopeful in that they had every tool available to them to take each day….one day at a time.

Sadly, we did not win the 50/50 drawing…shucks!!! $350!!! However, I sure came away richer than I arrived.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Step out of the box.

Father’s day project homerun!

Theme Thursday: Dad

1 Reply

What is the meaning of this, Tracy? Two posts in one day? What in the sam heck is going on with you?!??! Clearly this time off with a rehabbing child who is limited in energy and prohibited from sun has us INDOORS and running short and brief errands which in turn leaves me plenty of “bon-bon time” as my Hubby calls it. Shoot, I’ve got blogs in stand-by, you’ll be sick of me by next week. Or hooked. Either way. When I actually blog, my stats go UP. Who knew??

So today…..I join in with Cari and fellow Themers at:

The Clan

Father’s day is coming. I’ve got a super cutie thingamajig planned for the Hubs by the kids (totally His love language, but I can’t tell you about it b/c he actually reads my blog from time to time…so tell you later!). And so perfect timing on the Father Theme.

Dads are crucial. Period. End.

Case in point: When my Hubs was “away” I knew, KNEW, KNEW….his relationship with our kids and vice versa was the key to our future as a family. We did everything we could to cultivate those relationships during this time apart, from frequent visits, phone calls, letters, date-visits, photos, etc, etc. There came a time close to him coming home during a heated exchange with our oldest at his tweeniest that he said to me “You wait until I tell Dad about this”. It was at that point, I knew all of our joint effort as husband and wife, mother and father that it was ALL. WORTH. IT. Further affirmation came when Hubs was finally home with our dark chapter behind us and re-entry into our FULL family life was essentially smooth as buttah. Life wasn’t and ISN’T perfect, however, our struggles are pretty much in line with any other family life with mucho kiddos. We are imperfect people. What can I say? We acknowledge it and move on.

The fact that Abba, Father has been the cornerstone of our family life may have had a little somethin’ somethin’ to do with it also. Just an observation.

Happy Father’s Day, Hubby! And to all those dads out there….keep workin’ it….it’s worth every second!!!