Finding a Better Life Exists in Recovery

My wife and I filmed two more people for the documentary yesterday. Both of the stories will be a major part of Spiritual Spackle. If I were to form a team to go into the church and youth groups and speak to the kids there, these would be two of the three people I have interviewed so far that I would approach to go with me. They both had an amazing story. The best part was the happiness that I saw when they spoke of where they were to where they are now. That happiness they both have is due to Jesus.

One of them grew up without God in his life. He saw his mother and father both abusing substances. He began using alcohol, marijuana and pills at 14. He was using a lot and began selling drugs so that he could continue to use. He said that the only time that he got along with his mother is when they were smoking marijuana together. His mother was often abused, and he began parenting his mother and his baby brother while still in high school. He spoke of comforting his mother, telling her that everything would be alright. He turned to drugs and fighting himself in high school. After all, it was what he knew and what he had seen his entire life.

His baby brother was taken into custody by Children's Division. He got arrested for assault. His dad went to prison. His mother continued to date drug dealers and get beat up. He began to get tired of it. He had a couple of friends that started going to church that talked to him. He knew that it wasn't for him, but he decided to give it a shot.

The day he went one of his friends got baptized, and he decided to join him. He quit drugs and alcohol on that day. Cigarettes and cussing soon followed. He moved in with the youth pastor of the church that he went to. He completed school and he is now attending leadership college at James River Assembly of God. He has been drug and cigarette free for several years now. Better news, he said that his mother checked herself into rehab several months ago and was baptized two weeks ago.

The next story was one of not meeting God until it was almost too late. He started using drugs at a young age. Smoked first cigarette at 6, because he saw his mom doing it and he thought it looked cool. Began alcohol and weed at 12. He was in an accident where the car he was in hit a school bus head on at 85 miles an hour. His back was broken, and he was told that he would not walk again. He walked again, but was addicted to pain pills.

He did those for a while, and his use intensified. He began using benzodiazepines; combined with the pain pills, alcohol and marijuana. He was in and out of jail. He was dealing to afford his habit. He went to rehab several times, but would begin using as soon as he completed them. He had become an adrenaline junkie, and enjoyed stunting bikes. One day after eating a bunch of pills and drinking he wrecked his motorcycle and ripped his ankle off. It was hanging by the achilles tendon. He was told they would have to amputate. He refused to allow it. He kept his foot, but his continued lack of regard for himself and others separated him from his family.

He had a grandmother was supporting him, and she finally told him that he was cut off. She would pay for his motel that he was living at for two more weeks, and then he was on the streets. He relates that by now he was shooting heroin and cocaine. He was 6 foot tall and weighed 120 pounds. "I would not survive on the streets of Dallas." The last day his uncle and aunt drove down from Missouri and made him an offer. Go to Teen Challenge and we will pay for it.

He went that day, and since that day has not used. He completed Teen Challenge over half a year ago. He is coming up on two years clean after never having more than a month since he was 12. He is now living in Springfield, Missouri working full-time. He has also helped several of his family members begin to build their relationships with God.

What did these two have in common. Neither of them grew up with God in their lives. They both had major struggles, found no hope and turned to drugs. They both had God sized holes in them and tried to cover those holes up with substance abuse, women, violence and dealing drugs. What they found was jail, addiction, depression and even more hopelessness. They tried secular programs and methods to stop their addictions and they always went back to using. They were taught the word of God, told that Christ died for him and that they no longer needed to live their lives as they were living them.

They have quit using. Not stopped, quit! More than that, they have grown in their lives. They have become responsible; attending college and working full-time. They have used their lives as an example, and by living them well have drawn family members into a relationship with Christ because their family wants the changes in their lives that they have seen happen in both of theirs. They are also taking not only the message of recovery but the promise of hope to youth and those struggling with life controlling issues but sharing their testimonies.

Once again, with God all things are possible. These are just two more stories to add to the mix of how truly amazing God's grace is. I love to see not just the sobriety of those who have been changed by Christ, but how their lives have changed. They have been transformed from the ground up into more positive people, living for others instead of themselves. Because of that they share their stories with others and change not only their families, but the people they come into contact with also.