By Sherry Kennedy Brownrigg
Many years ago, my husband and I planned to go on vacation in Colorado, as it grew near, I knew I couldn’t go. We would be staying in a small cabin in an unfamiliar town, and the reality of having no escape from the effects of his alcoholism hit me hard. He decided to go without me, and while packing at home he disappeared, and in a pattern that was all too familiar, he reappeared five minutes later, visibly drunk. As he packed the car, we didn’t say a word.
Though I pleaded for him to stop, my husband was drinking nearly all the time now. I turned my pleas to God, and as the madness continued in my home, my prayer for my husband’s healing grew ever more intense. I cried out to the Lord to save him.
He got into the car, and despite my knowing it was an imprudent decision, with the slogan “friends don’t let friends drive drunk,” swirling through my thoughts, I let him go. I trusted God in most things, but watching Steve drive away that morning was the ultimate test of that trust. As I stood in the driveway praying, I felt at peace which stayed with me all day. Shortly after, I got a call from Steve that he had been arrested for drunk driving. Yet, I still felt that peace. The events of that day started the process of a new life for both of us.
Give whatever is troubling you today to God. You can trust Him in all things—little and big.
Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him. ~ Sirach 2:6
Thank you for sharing. To trust in God alone is hard for many, including me, especially when dealing with the choices of those we love and yet disagree with. Looking back on situations we can sometimes see that God had us in his loving arms all along. How wonderful for you to be able to experience God’s peace.
Thank you, Connie. It’s hard for me as well, and I always go back to St. Peter and his simple question – where else could we go? It seems like it’s a lifelong process!
Thank you for your honest and poignant story, Sherry. You are a woman of great faith to trust that voice deep in you, and look how God helped you! This story of vulnerability will help others who may have similar difficulties and do not know where to turn and how to stop enabling. Thank you for being truly a hero in Christ!
Thank you for your kind words, Sister. It’s good for me to always remember that God is either trustworthy or He’s not. He is consistent, so He’s one or the other, and I know which! I love your name, by the way. Blessings to you!
Just what I needed to hear this morning! Bless your heart for sharing!!!
I appreciate your sharing this story. I have been saying throughout the day “Jesus, in YOU I Trust”.
Godspeed and prayers for you, Ruth.
Thank you for being so open and honest! I can see the Lord is working in your life which gives us all hope. We need to truly rely on HIM!!! He will make our burdens light! God bless you both on the journey!
Thank you, Kathy, and may He do the same for you!
Your article is great. I’m facing an unhappy ending of my situation (divorce) and working to maintain my joy. I trust God and I recognize that unanswered prayers have purpose too; even if I don’t know what that is. I know God carries me. I don’t want my end result but I’m learning to accept it one day at a time.
Elizabeth, I’m so sorry this is happening to you. God answers prayers in so many different ways. The thing I kept in front of me is that God loves my husband more than I do, and if I trust, everything that happened and will happen to him will be geared toward getting him to everlasting life. I can feel that in addition to God carrying you, you have given your husband to God. Your yes and that love that ultimately wants the greatest good for him is cooperating in God’s Divine Plan. I am praying for you and that the graces that come about because of this will outweigh the pain you are feeling now 100 to 1!
THIS IS SOOOOOO APPROPRIATE- TO GIVE IT ALL TO GOD, THE ONLY REASONABLE THING I CAN DO!!! IN STEP 1 OF AL ANON, THE 12 STEP PROGRAM FOR FRIENDS/FAMILIES OF ALCOHOLICS, AND ACA, ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLIC AND DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES, THEY STATE: “WE ADMITTED WE WERE POWERLESS OVER ALCOHOL/THE AFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER FAMILY DYSFUNCTION, AND THAT OUR LIVES HAVE BECOME UNMANAGEABLE”. IN STEP 2 WE BELIVE GOD, A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES, CAN AND WANTS TO RETURN US TO SANITY. THEN IN STEP 3, WE MAKE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR LIVES (AND EVERYONE IN THEM) OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD. SUMMED UP SUCCINCTLY: “I CAN’T, GOD CAN, I THINK I’LL LET HIM”
THANKFULLY THE 12 STEP PROGRAMS AND MY CATHOLIC FAITH SPIRITUALITIES ARE COMPLETELY INTERTWINED… YOU CAN GO TO alanon.org or adultchildren.org for more information on how these programs can help if you are struggling with loved ones issues related to alcohol, drugs or any other family dysfunction. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A SPIRITUAL SOLUTION, AND HAVE SAVED MANY PEOPLES EMOTIONL/SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL LIVES…
Hi Chris, I love Al-anon! I’m like you – it’s woven together with my Catholic faith.
It is funny what we can be grateful for….I was terrified when my son went to prison, but so grateful, because this was the only thing that hadn’t been tried to wake my son up to his bad behavior. So, though prison sounds bad, it turned into a good thing! It took such faith to allow that consequence to play out!
You are so right, Lucy. I thank God for my husband’s alcoholism!