August 2016

This weekend, I watched my husband diligently declare war on a big wasp nest around our home. I laughed at him as he shot the wasp spray then ran inside the screened porch in fear of being attacked and stung. He sprayed under the siding where the nest was located, along with any lingering wasps flying in the area. The wasps that were not hit flew around trying to get back to the nest to see what was going on. Some of the wasps inside came pouring out to freedom, but others did not make it past coming out before falling to the ground, not able to withstand the contents of the can.

As I was watched the wasps, I realized addiction can affect our lives in much of the same way. Some of us are around the outside, never having experienced addiction and the chaos it creates. Some of us have been addicted, hitting the ground never to find our way up wasp4

again. Some have had addiction in their lives and have found freedom from the destruction. Unfortunately though, there are still so many out there who are searching for freedom from addiction, but do not know where to turn. To those who have never known anyone who suffers from addiction or experienced the chaos addiction can cause, I am happy for you. To those who have lost loved ones to addiction, I am so sorry for your loss. To those who are still in the throes of addiction-fueled chaos and are searching for freedom, I understand where you are and where you want to go. Sometimes we can be so caught up in our current positions in life, we become afraid of what might be. Just as the wasps kept flying around trying to get back to what they are familiar with (their home and security), we can behave similarly with our choice of remaining in chaos. In the midst of the chaos, we wasp5

inadvertently become blind to the freedom that is right outside of the storm surrounding us. We repeatedly go back to what we feel secure with and where we feel home is. Leaving behind and learning to live life without the false security we have built our life around is hard to do. Without the right guidance and help, we can find ourselves going back and forth, in and out of addiction. This is an all too common and very vicious cycle.

Regardless of where we are in life, we all have felt some sort of chaos. The team at waspendingpicture

Recovery Through Rediscovery is here and ready to serve you, to help guide you through your journey to freedom. We will help you conquer your fears and realize the joy and peace that is waiting on the other side. Please, call us and make that first step!

Blessings

I love working in the dirt. The weeding, sweating and making things look clean and beautiful is incredible to me. I had the opportunity to work with my dad yesterday in a flower garden that was well overgrown with multitudes of different flowers, bushes, trees, bugs and vines. As we were cleaning out the flower garden and taking breaks due to the heat, we had some time to talk. We discussed a range of things from the flower garden to addiction and healing as well as sickness, death and family. Honestly, when I got to the garden I thought, “I really do not want to do this because it is so hot and humid,” but my dad came over to help and I could not turn him down. What a wonderful person he is and what a wonderful day I had with him. After we got done, I was so thankful I did not turn away the help, as the garden looked clean and beautiful. There were also a lot of wonderful words spoken between he and I.

I used to harbor things within, thinking I could do it all on my own. Each time I was hurt, I

would keep things in more and more in order to build a wall of protection around myself. The wall got so tall and so thick, I became blind. I continued allowing myself no feelings and ignoring pain that I endured as a child. Therefore, I brought this behavior into adulthood and even in raising my children. Holding on to and not processing my hurts in childhood ultimately left me unequipped later on in life when stressful or unfavorable situations arose. Through my journey, however, I learned to face my past pain and most importantly, to keep my wall down and feel

joy, peace, happiness, pain, sadness, frustration and yes even anger. Life is hard and full of choices. I have made good choices and I have made bad choices. That is okay because I have turned my life around and I am keeping the wall down, facing life ONE DAY AT A TIME. It is NEVER too late! I have learned it is so important to lean on the people in my life to help me get through the hard times and help me in my time of need.

As the sweat poured and the digging continued I could not help

but think of Someone else in the garden who was sweating blood praying the cup would pass from Him. Again, I am so thankful He did not leave the garden and stayed there for me. He stayed to make us clean and beautiful. With Him staying, we are able to learn how to live this life to get to the next. We are human and in our humanness we are given forgiveness, joy and peace. We can daily speak with Him of our trials and tribulations. Let us be mindful of our walls and lets knock them down! We are here for you at Recovery Through Rediscovery. We want to hear from you and help you tear down your wall, getting rid of the addiction that clings to you so tightly. Learn how to live with the joy and peace we are promised.