SECRETS THAT KILL: A STORY OF RESILIENCE THROUGH RECOVERY

As a child, secrets were kept between friends and siblings. Sneaking off to the store, hanging out with friends, sharing stories of first loves and first kisses. Those were the secrets that made friendships and relationships the best of times; However, some secrets are not good to keep. Instead of smiles, they bring destruction into the lives of those who keep them.

Growing up, I witnessed how addiction ravaged through our family and burned through the family relationships and degraded the wholesome southern family values we were taught. I’ve also witnessed how a family can press through the issues of addiction with resiliency and walk into recovery. Resiliency is not easy to attain, but it can be done just as recovery can be as well. Resiliency isn’t something bestowed upon you once. It is a muscle strengthened by the forces that break down the family fabric, i.e., lies, stealing, mental health issues, homelessness, domestic violence and a whole plethora of social ills.

Addiction is not solely an individual or family issue, it is also a societal issue that requires a holistic approach that involves more than one system to be a solid foundation for recovery to take place. Once an individual is ready to confront addiction as a problem, families can learn how to process their feelings and establish real boundaries that support the individual rather than enable the addictive behaviors. In essence, to rebuild or reestablish and restore familial bonds.

I can testify as a witness that individuals and families are resilient and can recover from addiction. I witnessed many of my family members disintegrate from fun loving individuals into a shell of themselves. Creating a sense of anxiety around us. I also witness the power of God to restore them to wholeness and sobriety. With that, God also restored our relationship with one another and our faith in God. So, if you happen to be reading this article today. I would like to think that it’s not by chance and that God is in the midst and wants you to know that: “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible to the person who BELIEVES!

Mark 9:23 GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION