[nocellphone]

I was never willing or able to find compassion for my addict stepfather because I couldn't see past his behaviors to notice the wounded person inside. Then I heard a bit of his history, specifically the traumatic abuses he suffered at the hands of his violent alcoholic father (daily beatings until the six-pack was finished, God forbid the man bring home a 12-pack...). I slowly began to understand the reasons he became who he was. They're not excuses, only reasons. As the Al-Anon literature so eloquently puts it, "Hurt people hurt people"...

I have seen a picture of my stepfather as a young boy, bald-headed and smiling from ear to ear. My guess is that this was taken before the disease of alcoholism actively descended onto his family and grabbed them all by the throat.

When I think of him today, slowly slipping from this world as another disease (cancer) progresses, I picture that happy little boy... and my window of compassion opens a little wider.

Thanks, Splendra! You helped me today.