Prodigal Siblings are companions on the journey of recovery. Having experienced both the pain of our own addictions and the grace of healing in recovery, we offer encouragement for those making the difficult journey home to find their true selves again.
Fellow gambler, take my hand;
I’m your friend, I understand.
I’ve known your guilt, your shame, remorse;
I’ve borne the burden of your cross.
I found a friend who offered ease;
He suffered, too, with this disease.
Although he had no magic cure,
He showed me how we could endure.
We walked together side by side;
We spoke of things we had to hide.
We told of sleepless nights and debts,
Of broken homes and lies and threats.
And so my weary gambler friend,
Please take this hand that I extend.
Take one more chance on something new,
Another gambler helping you.
from Gamblers Anonymous "towards 90 Days"
Ten days after entering an addictions treatment program, stories of the devastation that my addiction led me to were in the newspapers and on the television news. To have my deepest, darkest secrets of addiction laid out for others to see was excruciating. I had protected my vulnerability, not wanting others to know my weaknesses and addiction. That vulnerability had now been smashed.
As I look back on those days of darkness, I can now see the power of God working in that moment. Because so many knew the circumstances of my addiction and what resulted because of it, people reached out to me from that knowledge.
At the time I was reflecting on Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son found in Luke’s gospel. I was reading Henri Nouwen’s book “The Return of the Prodigal Son”. I felt as though I was that prodigal son who had squandered the money on loose living, run away from home, and lost my identity through addiction. It was a time of great shame, remorse, and guilt. I kept asking “How could I do all the things I did in my addiction?”
Then cards and letters started to arrive for me at the treatment center, many from family and friends, but several from acquaintances and some from strangers. Real grace was wrapped in each envelop. Using the characters from the parable of the prodigal son, I grouped the letters into three categories. The first set of letters shared the message of the Father, “We love you. We forgive you. We support and pray for you. Come back.” They were wonderful to receive to know that in spite of all that I did people still loved and cared for me. Another set of letters, though few, shared the message of the older son, “We’re angry with you. How could you do this to us? We’re hurt.” I absolutely understood where they were coming from. These feelings of anger and hurt were all part of my emotions as well. In many cases I deserved their anger. Fortunately, those who wrote in anger still expressed their hope that I would be well and get healthy.
The third set of letters, however, surprised me the most and were the most profound. They were letters sent to me by what I call Prodigal Siblings. They wrote from their own experience of addiction, either in their own lives or in the lives of loved ones, to share the messages of “This too shall pass. Hold on to hope! Take it one day at a time. You’ll make it. We’re here for you.” They intuitively knew I needed a message of strength and hope in the dark days of early recovery.
That powerful experience of having the hand of a fellow prodigal son or daughter reach out to me was the inspiration for trying to help others be Prodigal Siblings. Those of us who have journeyed through addiction have a unique understanding of what others in addictions face.
When others in addiction reach out for help, we want a hand of recovery to be there. And for that we are responsible.
Copyright 2014 Prodigal Siblings. All rights reserved. Posted by John R.