greeteachday

Tonight was our Naranon group’s anniversary meeting. I love these meetings…the hope, the fellowship, the absolute aura of a power greater than me in the room…it just blows me away. But tonight was by far the most incredible program experience.

We always have a speaker both from NA and Naranon, celebrating the hope for our addicted loved ones and for us. Tonight we had 2 NA speakers, one of whom was my daughter. I knew she was very nervous, more nervous she confessed, then when she first spoke for NA. To say she was amazing is an understatement. I know I am biased as her mom, but she just blew everyone away. But the thing is, I know “she” doesn’t speak. She has no idea before hand what will come out of her mouth; her HP carries it all the way. (As she said, and I’ve seen it; I have experienced it myself when sharing sometimes in the rooms, the only time she ever starts to stumble a little is when she tries to control what she is saying, but when she lets it go, it truly is an amazing thing) We had a huge crowd…the room was filled and overflowing and it was beautiful to see the number of recovering addicts in the room as well. Her sponsor came too, just so cool. My daughter’s sharing brought both tears and laughter…she just has such a way and it is a wonderful gift.

Afterwards when we were enjoying the incredible spread of food (leave it to a bunch of codependents to supply enough food to feed a starving army for a month, lol) a young man and his wife came up to me. His wife recently joined our group and he is a recovering addict. In the amazing small world that is the recovery family, it turns out he was in outpatient rehab with my younger daughter and had been incredibly impacted by her death. In fact they came to the viewing…I didn’t remember them specifically; there were hundreds of people, but I do remember that so many from her OP came and it touched me so at the time. I was so incredibly moved by how much even now, 21 months later, he was still impacted by Kristen. He told me about a young girl who came into program shortly after Kristen died who faced the same sort of struggle my daughter had. He shared Kristen’s story with her and he wanted me to know that she is still clean, still touched by my angel. My HP brought me another miracle tonight and both my daughters shared this special anniversary with me.

I just can’t convey in words the power, the spirit that was in that room tonight. Our anniversary meetings are always special, but this one by far was beyond anything I could ever have thought. A young girl in our group was telling me how she wishes she had my daughter’s strength. I told her she underestimates herself…her strength is amazing and when I hear her share, I always think how special it is that young people can find this program and have the rest of their lives to experience the incredible benefits.

Thanks for letting me share my joy and my hope for our addicted loved ones and for us. Anyone who is ready and is willing to do what it takes can find recovery. We can not save our addicts, but we can save ourselves. And in saving ourselves, I truly believe it makes a positive difference in our loved ones. It doesn’t “make” them recover, but by example, we show the power of recovery. Hugs and prayers especially for those still suffering.

:ghug