Originally Posted by
nsyap 
I think it is important to forgive those who relapse but not to be so lenient that it is normalized as "OK."
I'd perhaps replace the words "forgive" and "lenient" with "sympathize/empathize" and "soft-handed" but agree with the sentiment:
RELAPSE IS NOT A PART OF RECOVERY. When people say that, I cringe. Big. Relapse is a part of addiction. One thing I do find sad and difficult to "answer" less than bluntly is this kind of thinking. It's part of step 1- acceptance (part 2 of step 1 is that our lives have become unmanageable)- that we can't allow room (I could not, to speak strictly for myself) for this concept if we have chosen to go the path of sobriety because it can give that teeny bit of space that is more than enough for our disease to win.