All posts by hvymtl38

The Past

Even though I have not had a drink in over twelve years, my past wants to creep into my mind on occasions. When those thoughts creep up the guilt and shame of my past behavior, during  my drinking years, can be very powerful.  What I do to deal with them is to look up to God and pray that they be removed from my thinking. It works for me. I came to realize that I could not change that past but rather take responsibility for my actions and make amends where possible so I could move on.

Now you hear me speak a lot about God and how prayer is so important to me.  I am not preaching, rather showing the importance of faith in my life. There are several reasons for this. For many years my belief was that I was being punished for my way of living. I used to look up every night and beg God to let me “die.” When I would wake in the morning, with a shameful mind and trembling body, I had nothing but anger growing in my mind because I had to live another dreadful day.  Now once i became sober, and my mind began to heal, I was slowly regaining faith in God. I came to believe that God was with me all along regardless of my denial of his caring. After all I had tried to stop drinking on my own over a thousand times from 1991 to 2003. I could not do it on my own.  I found out that it has nothing to do with ” willpower” otherwise I would have gotten sober years ago on my own. It was by regaining my faith and by the grace of God that I was given, many chances to live a better life. For that i am so grateful. My wish is that your heart can be filled with God’s love as well.

Life Does Go On

Sobriety has been a wonderful journey for me with many highlights. One of the most significant  is having God back in my life. Without that it is unlikely that I would be sober today. Beautiful things have happened , like the birth of my three grandchildren and by the grace of God they have never had to see me take a drink. I have been able to make amends to many people, by working the 12 steps of AA, and it goes further than just. I not only said i was sorry but I also took ownership for my behavior and how it affected everyone.  I believe many of my family members accepted my amends as we have a good relationships now. However there are some that did not. I understand and still wish those people well. For those who i have not had an opportunity  to make an amend for various reasons like geographics or just harm or it may bring, I pray that I may one day make a direct amend or at least promise myself to not make the mistakes and exhibit behaviors of my past.  In addition, after living as a single adult for 24 years, I met a wonderful woman and have been happily married for 5 years now.

Now as much good has occurred for me but  there have been many hardships as life has gone on in sobriety. During this time i lost my father, grandmother and a dear friend. Newly released from Rehab in 2003 I found myself without my own home,  I was forced to sell my car to cover daily expenses and the lost my job. The most important lesson I learned is that no matter what good or bad comes along in life , I did not have to take a drink over it. Now I know many  more good and bad experiences lie ahead but with God close to my side, I pray everyday to be able to get by happy and trying times without having to drink.

Temptation

Unfortunately, for the  active alcoholic and those recovered and in recovery, temptations exists all around us on a daily basis.  There are the liquor stores with their fancy dressed bottles, the grocery stores with their large refrigerated alcohol aisles, the convenient stores with their neon beer signs and music and sporting venues serving alcohol, just to name a few. I can remember my trip home from the last rehab stay. The van transporting me home stopped at a store for sodas and snacks. As I walked in the first thing that caught my attention were the bright neon signs advertising beer. I was scared to death, but because i was with other alcoholics leaving rehab i was able to buy a soda and return to the van. In early recovery I found myself testing myself against drinking by walking down the beer isle at the grocery store. i was also foolish enough to enter a liquor store to buy a lotto ticket. Lastly, while in recovery I actually purchased beer for friends finding myself holding the six pack in my hand. Very slippery encounters that I should have avoided at all costs. I have learned over the years that such behavior has to be avoided at all costs. I do not go down the beer or wine isles at the store nor do i dare walk into a liquor store. Today I know that in any hour of temptation I can reach out to God in communion and ask him to remove those thoughts at once. My prayers go answered  and I live sober for another day. These days, temptation rarely enters my thoughts. If they ever do I pray to God for them to be dispelled immediately and say to myself that ” I don’t have to live that way anymore.”  May your mind be free of temptation. God Bless.

God’s Gift To You

I believe God gave me the gift of sobriety to protect, love and cherish. It has protected me against taking a drink over the last 12 years. I know I can reach out to God in any hour of temptation , grasp that gift tightly, and ask that the thought of drinking be removed at once. It works for me. Therefore if I was to take a drink I would be throwing my gift back into God’s face, in a manner of speaking, which I have no right to do .I pray that you may reach out and accept that wonderful gift that I know God is extending. I know it available and is proof by the many  alcoholics who have received it and hold onto it with their life. What a blessing.

Daily Prayer

My daily routine involves waking up and praying. I pray for the health, happiness, safety and security of my family and friends. I am very careful not to pray for myself with the exception of health and longevity so that I may be of use to my family, friends and the suffering alcoholic. I do not pray for material things. In doing so I feel my spiritual foundation is sound.  Today I pray that communion with God becomes part of your life. It is a feeling that is indescribable. God Bless you always!

God in my Life

It was a few months into my sobriety, back in 2004, that my faith in God began to return. For many years prior, in active drinking, I had lost faith. I believed God was punishing me for my way of living and the only time I reached out to him was when I begged him to let me die, which was everyday.  I am grateful that he must of had other plans for me.

My faith today is very strong. He is always there for me during the day when I need to commune with him. I believe that he is listening and loves me. For those of you struggling with active addiction , I say he loves you too and the gift of sobriety will be granted to you if you extend your hand out to him. I you are one in sobriety who finds your self struggling, just reach out for God’s hand and know you have been chosen to live a better way than  you did in  active drinking. I know its tough but just believe and you are going to be given the greatest gift of your life. God bless you!

 

Welcome!

Hi……My name is Ken and  I  am a recovered alcoholic and the author of the book titled “The Wasted Years – I don’t have to live that way anymore“……I would like to welcome everyone to my site!…..Its purpose is to reach out to those suffering souls in hopes that they can find a way out from the gripping disease of Alcoholism ….. I invite recovered alcoholics and those early in recovery to join in and share your perils with the disease as well as what sobriety has been like for you…..Together, with God,  we can make a difference in the lives of alcoholics and their families…. Bless You!

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