In this life I have needed to find a source of strength which was greater than me. Through the disease of alcoholism, after many years, I was forced by pain, to admit defeat - at that moment I was able to turn to God and sincerely ask for help. Before that point I tried everything in 'my' power to help myself, to no avail. Once I became willing to ask for help, from people as well as from my 'power greater than myself', God - then I started to receive help. Help came in the form of 'stopping' drinking alcohol (a day at a time) - and that was just the beginning. Through practice of - turning problems, and life's difficulties, over to God as I understand God; I began to build trust. Believing in God and trusting in God are two very different things; for me. I had believed in God all of my life; but I never believed that He could or would 'work' for me. Not until the pain became bad enough and I was willing to give it a try. Today, 24 years into this practice of, praying daily; asking God for help to live this one day. Asking for release from the alcoholic obsession - and coming to find that I could ask God for many things, and obtain an answer. Today, after 24 years of practice I can attest to the fact that you can 'Pray in all things, and trust God.' Padre Pio said, "Pray Hope, and Don't Worry". That is what I like to share... another is, 'pray without ceasing.' I've prayed throughout a day and found that I almost prayed, 'without ceasing'.
My life is new today. It is brand new every day. The roles I play in my days these days, are very different from what they were 24 years ago - when I first began my journey of living a day at a time, and of prayer... and meditation... and trust in God. My days are so full today. Twenty-four years ago, I was a shell of the person that I am today. Today I wear many hats, and I am accountable to many people. People can count on me today. I am useful to people today. I like myself today. I even have trust in myself today... because of my trust in God. Because I have faith in God, I know that with God's help, I can do anything. That is a very big thing to me. In my past all I had was worry and fear. I didn't trust anything about myself, and I hardly trusted the ground beneath my feet.
Nancy Koncilja Gurish Your Health And Tech FriendThe following is a paragraph I found from a website that has some good information on alcoholism and problem drinking... you may wish to take a look. - Nancy
"Alcoholism is a word which many people use to mean alcohol dependence (alcohol addiction). Some people are problem drinkers without being dependent on alcohol. If you are alcohol-dependent then detoxification ('detox') can help you to stop drinking."
