Second chance

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Read Matthew 5:21-37

Once an argument started it just didn’t stop and I didn’t know how to let go or control myself basically. I went outside and had another drink you know.

It was on the 25th May 1998. Alan, our pastor, said I think you should go to AA and so on the Wednesday night I was sitting and having tea on my own and I was trying to think of all the excuses in the world why I wouldn’t go and eventually I did and it was probably the best thing I ever did. I felt straight away I needed to be there, and that was probably the turning point.

I attended AA for 12 months. I had a wonderful support group from the church of 6 people and they still support me to this day and we go out every year to celebrate that particular day. To have alcohol AA on its own was good but it wasn’t enough. But the home support group, the church support group that was absolutely fantastic. Yep, couldn’t have done it without them. When I look back now I think for me probably, maybe if God hadn’t allowed something to happen in my life – come to a crisis point, I may never have stopped drinking and I really thank him for that. I really turned to God a lot and it helped absolutely. So now there’s a very close relationship there. We can talk day to day.

Lord Jesus, thank you for always being there for me. Help me to deal with my issues and support others who are battling too. Amen

Devotion adapted by Lutheran Media, from a Message of hope interview of Gavin and Dion

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