Saturday, June 09, 2007

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

My husband Randy celebrated his --drum roll, please--56th birthday a couple of weeks ago! As they say in Alcoholics Anonymous, that's a "belly button" birthday. His sobriety birthday is coming up on 9 years--a miraculous, joyous occasion that has made the celebration of another year older possible. Thanks be to God!

Yet this year's birthday was bittersweet. At age 56, Randy could have retired from his job as an Air Traffic Controller with a comfortable monthly income and benefits. Sigh... On those days when we struggle with the "could- have- beens" Randy will say, "You know, we could have been retired now." We look at each other, roll our eyes, and manage to chuckle. Being able to laugh at ourselves has been a long time coming, though.

Randy lost his job 12 years ago, a devastating loss for him--and for me. But that's the toll of addiction. A bright and talented man had no power over alcohol. He had been through dozens of treatment programs, both in-patient and out-patient, counseling, A.A., and other support groups. I believe all were helpful and moved Randy toward recovery, but he hadn't reached the point of complete surrender even after losing his career. Yet the journey toward sobriety, though long and difficult, has left us with gratitude beyond words.

These days we don't allow ourselves to wallow for long in self-pity. We both know we are blessed many times over. We know alcoholism could have claimed Randy's life if he had continued drinking. My imagination has always been vivid in playing out worst-case scenarios that only by the grace of God never happened. The car accidents where Randy and/or the other driver and passengers could have been killed or maimed, a prison sentence and unimaginable guilt that haunted us, or a tragic mistake on his job, wreaking untold suffering.

Maybe it would have been nice to just hang out on our back deck sipping iced tea with no particular place to go. But having life, vibrant, busy with work and purpose is cause to celebrate. So when I brought out the chocolate cake with one bright candle (I was so sure I had a supply of those little birthday candles!) and sang my solo rendition of Happy birthday, dear Randy, I meant it with all my heart.

3 comments:

Alida Sharp said...

Thank you for this post! My husband has 19 years of sobriety and we are grateful for each and every one of them!

Unknown said...

A recent copy of Reader's Digest has a couple of articles on Alcoholics Anonymous. The crux of the articles is that the famous 12 Steps, don't work at all. Apparently, there's no data to support the claim that Alcoholics Anonymous is successful at getting people to stop drinking. From my own experience, the 12 Steps, shut down the critical thinking section of ones brain. What do you think? Comments are welcome!!
PEACE BE WITH YOU
MICKY

Unknown said...

Hey Micky,
I totally disagree with the Readers Digest. The 12 steps can and WILL work for all who have the willingness and honesty to want to change. It offers the tools to become honest, face what is, and become willing to change. So much life in that program, al-anon and so many of the other 12 step programs. If people want to change there lives, the answers are there and there are also side by side scriptures in the Bible to prove it. It's life in its simplicity. We just have to face the facts, be willing to change and its there.