For those of you who don't know me, I was an Alcoholic for 13 years, and just an all around miserable person. You wouldn't have known it by the show I put up on the outside. Looking back those were not what I would call my glory day's. I'm sure my wife would attest to that as well. Those were some of the worst times of my life, but let me tell you something.......(In a Whisper) "In a weird sorta way I'm kinda glad I went through what I did". I'm not saying that I praise God for that time in my life, I guess it's just that I learned a lot from it. I now know what a Christian doesn't do. If I may let me share with you what I think some of those things are. A Christian doesn't go around trying to be someone he's not. A Christian doesn't live a life of lies, or disrespect others. A Christian doesn't throw his dinner across the room at his wife after it got too cold because he decided he wasn't finished getting drunk. He doesn't live a life of selfishness always putting himself first. He doesn't go to church or even try to establish a personal relationship with God, in fact he doesn't really think much of God at all. He doesn't threaten his loved ones with hurt full words or fit's of rage and anger. He doesn't bring his loving wife to tears just because she couldn't take his degrading insults. He just wishes that the nightmare would end. The list in my case is pretty much endless. Having said all that, I can know for the first time in my life get excited about something as simple as going on a beautiful bike ride with my wife. A nice sit down meal, the dignity of having a job, the birds singing praises to the Lord, or even just having a normal relaxing conversation with the one's you love. Sometimes in life you have to tear something down in order to build it up again. I believe that's what God did for me. He let me stray away from him in my so called Christian Liberty. He let me let myself hit rock bottom. For that I have no one to blame but me the former Rock Bottom Man. But ya see, by hitting rock bottom that paved the way for God to build me up again. It also allowed him to put certain people in my path at just the right time. In Jeremiah 29:11 it says 'For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, Plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope". God didn't put that sin in my life but he sure laid down his plans to deliver me from it. It's just so awesome to know that if you wonder a million steps away from God it only takes one step to get back. I just want to end by saying I'm so grateful for God's loving, kindness and gracious mercies. If your going through troubles and tribulations in your life, Just reach out, and HE will reach in. Thank -You for reading and God Bless.
2 comments:
Jeff, i think you know by now how proud Ross and i are of your hard work with the battle of alcohol. I am glad that God has given you the strength to continue your journey to be more like Him. I believe that some people never change until they hit rock bottom. I told Dawn that many times. Even David in the Bible had to be broken before God. And yes, we can be thankful for the lessons we learned from the paths we took. It is only going to make you a stronger Christian now and a better husband. Praise God! Also, you are probably a better bike rider than i am. I get tired after a 20 minute ride! Good for you!
dude - great stuff. I know I went though similar things in my battle with alcohol (even though I wasn't married at the time) but I still treated those around me horribly!
I praise the Lord for what He is doing in your life. You, Dawn and your marriage is turning into a wonderful trphy of God's grace!
Love ya bro! (now get down here!)
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