Celebrating 14 Years of Sobriety!
Just a few days ago on March 7 I celebrated 14 years of sobriety. By God’s grace, it’s an anniversary worth honoring by remembering how far I’ve come, and the darkness I was rescued from. What a joy to live in freedom as I reflect on the person I once was. My life is living proof that recovery and restoration is possible. But the truth? I can’t take the credit, each day sober goes to glorify God and to the people He’s placed around me. For this new life I’ve been given, I am grateful.
My season over 14 years ago lost to drug addition destroyed my life and the lives of all those around me. I will never forget the despair, deep hurt and agonizing pain of it all. Wandering hungry and homeless. Overdosing and dying 3 different times, revived just to go right back to using. Living in prison, alone and empty. I remember thinking freedom could never happen for me, that I might be stuck in that cycle forever. Redemption stories were just fairy tales. I wanted to change, but failed so many times.
Losing custody of my daughter while in prison was a turning point. Being her father was like a lifeline after losing everything else: my job, my girlfriend, my apartment, my belongings, my freedom. A friend in prison shared the Gospel with me and when I gave my life to Jesus, true healing began.
When I entered treatment my mentors and pastors helped me dream, plan and execute a life of serving others. The focus was to address the root causes of my addiction and begin to heal. A change of mind and attitude overflowed into changes of behavior. Mentors like Rick B and Charles K always addressed my character and integrity while coaching me.
I see now what I couldn’t see then. When one life is changed it can spark change in others. My mentors would host a monthly breakfast where they would buy and prepare all the food. Just seeing them do it, consistently with a heart of generosity, spoke volumes to me. I saw joy and peace, and knew I wanted that too. I would ask Charles how I could repay him. “The only thing you can do is to help the next person!,” he say. Most of those people who sowed into my life 14 years ago are still in my life today, still challenging me!
The biggest takeaway as I celebrate 14 years sober is: RECOVERY MATTERS. We have all been affected by some type of addiction. When we support just one person in their sobriety journey, that person’s life goes on a new trajectory. They are a life changed. What happens next is the multiplier effect: that person, healing and now sober, goes on to inspire someone in their circle to examine themselves. And then that next person, as they get free, inspires the next person… and so on. God designed us to receive joy and to get boosted up, in a sense, when we give and help others. I have so many examples of friends who were once like me, chose sobriety, did the hard work of recovery and went on to dedicate their lives to helping others get recovery help. There is something bigger than us happening here in Chester, and we want you to be part of it.
When you think of life investments, think of Greenhouse Project. We are committed to helping multiply recovery right in our community. Our addiction coaching program is busier than ever, and we see the need. Want to be part of the change? Become a monthly Recovery Sponsor! When you consider the longterm benefit of sponsoring someone in our recovery program with a monthly gift, it is profound. When one person’s life is restored, it changes a family, which changes a community!
A MONTHLY RECOVERY SPONSOR MAKES A BIG IMPACT:
$120 gives 3 people with addiction coaching for 1 month (4 sessions, 1 hr each)
$80 gives 2 people with addiction coaching for 1 month
$40 gives 1 person with addiction coaching for 1 month