One Year

January 19, 2016:  Bruce took his final drink of alcohol.  This is one year, to the day, from his last DWI ... an  anniversary he does not remember and one I cannot forget.

January 20, 2017:  Bruce celebrated one full year of sobriety.  One. Full. Year.  Thank you, Lord.

Last week he invited me to an AA meeting.  This is only the second one he has invited me to in all these years of struggle.  It was a small but wonderful group of men and women from our rural community.  Some spoke, some did not, but the discussion and conversation from those that did share was touching and thought-provoking.  These individuals come from varying backgrounds, occupations, and ages, but they all share the common thread of the disease of alcoholism.

Bruce received his one year coin at this meeting.  Each person there touched the coin and passed it on to the next until it came back to Bruce.  All giving their support.  All holding on to hope.

This is my plea to you today:  hold on to hope.  Just for this day ... this hour ... this minute.  Hold on to the hope of sobriety and recovery and living the wholesome life you were created for!